Fukushima: Aizuwakamatsu Station — Guide Yumi

What Is a Private Winter Tour of Ouchi-juku and Aizu-Wakamatsu Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting from Oceania.

Advance communication was handled through a tour concierge at a travel agency. At first the meeting point had not been decided, and in January the request was to meet at a hot spring inn in the Higashiyama Onsen area. However, since it takes nearly three hours by public transportation from Higashiyama Onsen to Ouchi-juku, and since the inn was located at the far end of the hot spring town and far from the bus stop, I informed the concierge about the option of going by taxi, along with the respective times and costs for each method. The concierge had apparently not expected transportation costs to arise after meeting the guide, and although there were various requests, Mr. Yasuda at [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) handled the matter, and in the end we arranged to meet at Ouchi-juku. The guests took a taxi from their accommodation, and the concierge reportedly agreed to reimburse the cost later.

The concierge initially asked for a six-hour tour of Ouchi-juku alone, but I explained that this would be difficult because many shops in Ouchi-juku are closed during the winter season, many shops are closed on Wednesdays, and the temperature was very cold. Instead, I asked whether I could guide them somewhere in Aizu-Wakamatsu city for about two hours in the latter half. There was concern that the return taxi fare would increase, but I reassured them by choosing a location that would minimize this. On the concierge's advice, I also asked the guests directly via a messaging app about their preferences, and after checking the schedule of Miki, who would guide the Aizu-Wakamatsu city portion on another day, we decided to visit the samurai residence closest to the guests' accommodation.

On the day, we met at the entrance to Ouchi-juku as planned. The weather was good, and the guests were delighted by the deep snow and the old townscape. While talking about why this village alone had been preserved in this way, they also enjoyed the view from the observation deck. The stairs to the observation deck and the shrine had become sloped with snow and were dangerous, so we went up and down slowly while holding the handrails. Some of the guests played in the snow as we walked, while another asked many questions about history and culture. Because I had consulted with various shopkeepers the day before about how to enjoy Ouchi-juku as much as possible, the few shops that were open welcomed us very warmly. We were served complimentary tea and pickles, and we were even able to go inside a snow hut that had been hastily made the previous day, allowing the guests to enjoy the Japanese countryside in winter. They seemed disappointed that the sake brewery at the near end of the street was closed for the day, so I asked whether they would like to visit not only the samurai residence but also a sake brewery in Aizu-Wakamatsu, and they said they would. After lunch, we headed to Aizu. For the road from Ouchi-juku to Aizu, I asked the taxi driver to take a different, more scenic route than the one we had come by. Since the distance was actually shorter, I believe there was no issue from the concierge's perspective.

Although the sake brewery visit was arranged on short notice, a tour was available at just the right time. To make sure my interpretation would not disturb other Japanese visitors, I had prepared explanatory images on an iPad in advance as a precaution, and had the guests look at these while I interpreted the additional parts on the spot. The guests enjoyed the tasting at the end and purchased a bottle of sake.

After the sake brewery visit, we had planned to head to the samurai residence, but by chance the topic of tomorrow's train time came up. It turned out nothing had been booked and they had not been told how to make the transfers, so I wrote out how to get from Aizu-Wakamatsu to the next lodging area in Yudanaka, including transfers and times. The guests were surprised that it would take longer and involve more transfers than they had expected, and began to say that carrying their luggage all that way to Yudanaka might not be worth it, and that going directly to Osaka might be better. My extra kindness had created a situation that might change the next day's itinerary. One of the guests emailed the concierge but received no reply and grew anxious, so I reassured them that it would be difficult to cancel tomorrow's lodging now and that leaving it as is might be best, but the mood had become gloomy. I emailed Miki, tomorrow's guide, about the situation. First, they said they were no longer in the mood to visit the samurai residence and were tired, and wanted to go to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to book Shinkansen seats, so I went with them.

While at the station, we waited a while for a reply from the concierge, since a reply would allow tomorrow's plans to be finalized and the train seats to be booked. It then turned out that Miki, tomorrow's guide, was also nearby, having come early to stay overnight, so she hurried over. We were able to make an unexpected introduction and handover, which lightened the atmosphere. With Miki there, I was able to explain that if we ended tomorrow's tour a little earlier and caught the 11:30 train, there would be one fewer transfer than the times I had first given, making it easier. Miki also offered to accompany them by train as far as Koriyama on her way back, which seemed to reassure them further. While we were talking, it became three o'clock, and they said I was free to go, so we parted ways. I was able to coordinate well with Miki, and it was very good that she came to help at the end.

This time, many things happened from before the tour began until the very end, but thanks to Mr. Yasuda at [Japan Guide Agency](https://www.j-g-a.org/), Miki the next day's guide, the people of Ouchi-juku, and the taxi driver, the tour itself concluded safely and enjoyably, and I am grateful.

Since I traveled from Ouchi-juku to Aizu by my own car, and Mr. Yasuda had informed me in advance that gasoline and parking costs would be reimbursed, I am attaching the parking receipts. As for gasoline, since there are no gas stations in the countryside, I could not obtain a receipt for that specific section, so I have decided not to claim it. Please process only the two parking receipts.

Click here for more details: Ouchi-juku Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Yumi

Hello! My name is Yumi. The Nikko area, Nasu area, in Tochigi Prefecture, and Aizu and Shirakawa area in Fukushima prefecture, where I will be guiding you, are not only surrounded by beautiful nature in all four seasons but are also full of historical attractions. Nikko, in particular, is a great place to learn about the culture and history that has shaped Japan to this day. In order for you to truly enjoy your day, I am flexible to your wishes and will prepare your day to be a great day. Because I am a local guide, you will surely see some sights that are not in the guidebooks. Is local food one of your favorite parts of your trip? I am also a sushi-making instructor for foreigners, so food is one of my specialties. I am also a certified sake navigator. Why don’t you come and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with me?