I am Phan The Anh, a Vietnamese travel blogger. Today, I want to invite you to sit down, sip a cup of tea, and let me tell you about a journey that completely changed my perspective on Japan. Not the bustling Tokyo, not the familiar ancient Kyoto, but Fukushima – the land of brave samurai warriors and an autumn season so brilliant it’s simply “overwhelming”.
Table of Contents
Let’s start! Let’s travel to Japan, Let’s travel to Fukushima
Why is Autumn in Fukushima “True Love”?
Unlike the fragile beauty of cherry blossoms in spring, autumn in Fukushima possesses a deep, quiet, yet incredibly impressive beauty. The weather is super chill with crisp air and golden sunlight pouring down like honey – perfectly suited for trench coats, scarves, and boots. And you can forget about the jostling crowds in Kyoto or Tokyo. Here, you can have the entire red-leaf road all to yourself.
Hearing that this is one of the 100 finest castles in Japan, it wasn’t until I stood at the foot of those ancient stone walls that I truly felt the majesty mixed with the melancholy of history. This castle was once destroyed during the fierce Boshin Civil War in 1872, but it is those very ruins that create a strange allure.
The nickname “Castle in the Mist” (Kasumigajo)
Locals say that in spring, when the 2,500 surrounding cherry trees bloom, the castle looks like it is floating amidst a sea of pink clouds. Although I visited in autumn without the cherry blossoms, the layer of early morning mist covering the mossy stone walls was enough to make the scene as mysterious as a movie.
The first stop that made me exclaim “Wow” was Kasumigajo Park (Nihonmatsu Castle Ruins). True to the rumors, autumn here is surreal. Thousands of ancient trees simultaneously change their colors, creating layers upon layers of yellow and red. Walking here, I felt completely detached from the chaotic world outside. The silence was only broken by the rustling of dry leaves underfoot and the chirping of birds.
Adachigahara Furusato Village: A Journey Back in Time
If you are fascinated by Japanese historical dramas, Adachigahara Furusato is a real-life movie set just for you. Stepping through the village gate feels like “rewinding time” back centuries ago. The highlight is the 5-story pagoda (Goew-Do) standing tall amidst the autumn sky. Beside it are Samurai houses recreating the daily life of the past.
I highly recommend renting a Kimono or Samurai costume here for photos. The red of the maple leaves combined with the antiquity of the wooden architecture creates an incredibly nostalgic vibe. Also, this place is famous for the Onibaba (Demon Hag) legend. The image of the Onibaba with messy white hair and a furious face might make the faint-hearted shiver!
The 650-Year-Old Ginkgo Tree
This is a “hidden gem” tipped off by locals (located at Shingu Kumano Shrine). Standing before the canopy that spreads wide like a giant umbrella glowing with golden light, I was truly moved.
The tree has stood there for over six centuries, witnessing so many ups and downs and changing seasons. Compared to the life of the tree, human life is just a blink of an eye. Standing under the tree, picking up a fan-shaped yellow leaf, I felt my heart calm down and felt incredibly grateful for this life.
Goshiki-numa / Five Colored Lakes: An Unmissable Autumn Stop
Visiting Fukushima without going to Goshiki-numa is like you haven’t been there at all. Formed by the eruption of Mount Bandai in 1888, this cluster of lakes has water colors that change magically: from cobalt blue and turquoise to emerald green.
“Must-try” Experiences: Eat and play until you forget the way home
Fukushima is dubbed the “Kingdom of Fruit”. If summer has Momo (peaches), then autumn is the paradise of Fuji Apples.
Fuji Apples I visited Maruhara Orchard on the Abukuma highlands. Just stepping into the garden, the scent of sweet apples hit my nose immediately.
- Cost: About 880 Yen/hour (approx. 150k – 160k VND).
- Experience: You get to hand-pick huge, juicy red apples from the trees and eat as much as you want right on the spot. Take a bite, and the sweet juice bursts out, crisp and refreshing. If you want to buy some as gifts, the price is about 648 Yen/kg. Much cheaper than supermarkets in Vietnam, and the quality is beyond debate!
After playing hard, you need to recharge. The cuisine of the Aizu region (in Fukushima) is extremely unique:
- Sauce Katsu-don: Unlike the standard Katsu-don cooked with eggs, this dish in Aizu features deep-fried pork cutlets dipped in a secret rich sauce, placed on a bowl of hot rice. Eating this in the cold weather truly “warms the heart”.
- Kitakata Ramen: Thick, curly noodles with a light, clear broth. Remember to slurp it loudly to do it right!
To have a perfect Fukushima autumn foliage trip, keep these tips in mind:
- Transportation: From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen (Tohoku Line) to Koriyama Station or Fukushima Station, taking only about 80-90 minutes. The JR East Pass (Tohoku area) is still the most economical choice (about 30,000 Yen/5 days).
- Golden Time: Autumn leaves in Fukushima are usually at their best from late October to mid-November. Remember to check the Momiji Forecast before you go.
- Outfit: Autumn here is colder than in Tokyo. Bring warm coats, scarves, and comfortable sneakers for trekking around the Five Colored Lakes.
Born in 1988, Phan The Anh is currently a Marketing Lecturer at Eastern International University and holds a PhD from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. He also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Strategic Marketing and is a frequent contributor to various marketing publications.
Fueled by a passion for wanderlust, beyond his academic career in marketing, Phan The Anh is also a travel blogger who has participated in numerous tourism development projects in Taiwan. In 2019, he was honored to be appointed as a Tourism Ambassador for Busan, South Korea, by the city’s Mayor
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