What to know
Ouchijuku (大内宿) is a former post town on the Aizu-Nishi Kaido trade route, which linked Aizu with Nikko during the Edo Period. Because the shogunate required travelers to make long journeys on foot, post towns like Ouchijuku sprang up along the routes to offer food, lodging, and rest.
Today, Ouchijuku has been restored to its Edo Period appearance, with telephone and power lines buried underground. The unpaved main street is lined with thick thatched-roof buildings housing shops, restaurants, and minshuku (small traditional inns). Popular local specialties include soba noodles and char fish grilled on skewers.
The former Honjin, the principal inn for high-ranking officials, stands along the main street and is open to the public as a museum. It showcases elegant traditional interiors from the Edo Period and displays dishes, clothing, and other artifacts.
Also worth visiting are Ouchijuku's shrine and temple. The temple sits at the end of the main street atop a steep staircase, rewarding visitors with a panoramic view of the street and surroundings. A five-minute walk off the main road leads to a quiet shrine nestled among cedar trees, featuring a pleasant atmosphere and a unique purification fountain.
Ouchijuku is located in Shimogo Town, about 20 kilometers south of Aizu-Wakamatsu. The nearest station is Yunokami Onsen on the Aizu Railroad (35 minutes, 1060 yen one way from Aizu Wakamatsu Station, 860 yen with the Japan Rail Pass). From there, a 15-minute taxi ride (around 2000 yen one way) reaches Ouchijuku. From mid-March through November, a bus runs between Yunokami Onsen and Ouchijuku about once per hour (20 minutes, 1100 yen for a 2-day pass).