Aizu-Wakamatsu, located in Fukushima Prefecture, is Japan’s premier “Samurai City”. Famous for its pivotal role in the 1868 Boshin War, it offers a deep dive into feudal history, traditional hot springs, award-winning sake, and stunning mountain scenery.
We got to the hotel, got lost in the hotel and relaxed leaving our inner Samurai to focus on refueling.
A delightful day cycling on mainly quiet roads, flourishing forests framed with fabulous trees of many types. Good hiding places for the bears we’ve had stern warnings about what to do. Here’s a fun story about Hercules the Bear: https://youtu.be/aOab6D7q06c?si=Jkvo0GNAI6mg08En
So we need to channel our inner Baloo for the next stretch of “Wild Japan”. If today’s contrast of hills and remote rural farmsteads is anything to go by, it’ll be fun. Temperatures too are getting towards what we’re used to – a balmy 12.4C today.
Tomorrow things may heat up as we get to Fukushima.
Travelling reflections 