Ouchi-juku: The Thatched-Roof Post Town and Whole-Leek Soba

Head to Ouchi-juku, where the mountains of Aizu still preserve the atmosphere of the Edo period. Your trip begins at Yunokami Onsen Station, a thatched-roof station building rare anywhere in Japan. After enjoying the suspension bridge and the beautifully eroded gorge at Tonohetsuri, a National Natural Monument, stroll through Ouchi-juku, where thatched-roof houses line both sides of the old highway. Get a feel for post-town life at the Townscape Exhibition Hall, a restored honjin, and finish with the famous negi ippon soba (whole-leek soba) at Misawaya. Eating Takato soba using a whole long leek in place of chopsticks makes for an unforgettable experience. This is a day to freely wander a post town where time seems to move slowly, perfect for couples who enjoy a relaxed trip.