Let’s tuck into the smelt fish we caught!

When we went out of the smelt fishing dome in the afternoon, the weather had changed and the landscape looked completely white! There was a blizzard. We went to the Morikawa guesthouse and entered the kitchen, where they cooked the smelt we brought. Hot out of the fryer, it’s was crispy and melted in my mouth. I hadn’t expected it to be so delicious. To be honest, the smelt fish I’d had before tasted a little bit bitter, so I thought that it usually tasted that way. I was surprised that it could be this sweet, even after being fried! Freshly caught smelt fish is so delicious, we finished it all in the blink of an eye.

A cup of coffee that communicates the ideas of young local roasters

After filling up on the delicious smelt, we headed to formerly MOTO COFFEE (now known as Rotten Row Coffee Roasters) for some delicious hand drip coffee that is roasted and brewed in-house. The coffee house is in a log cabin and has a cute sign outside—if you pass by, you will certainly feel the urge to go inside. Upon entering the shop, I saw a large coffee roasting machine and a wide kitchen area. As we headed to the second floor of the cafe, the floating aroma of coffee enveloped us. If you sit facing the large window, you can contemplate the beautiful snowy landscape and even see Mount Bandai far in the distance.
In the relaxing atmosphere of the cozy shop, the aroma of coffee from Ethiopia felt fruity and slightly sweet. It was interesting to enjoy a fruity coffee from a warm country while contemplating the snowy landscape out the window. I want to stop by this coffee shop again next time I visit Urabandai.

(Lower right) The shop also sells an exclusive selection of coffee beans.

Spot Information

Rotten Row Coffee Roasters

Address:

Kitashiobura, Jinkurosawayama, Hibara 1097-125

Website：

Rotten Row Coffee Roasters　

We made it to the Yellow Falls!

We crossed a large belt of rocks which cannot be crossed during the summer. After that, there was less snow and it was easier to continue walking.

“Wow! I can see the blue sky!” When I looked up, I could see the blue sky.Just a little bit more to go until we reach the Yellow Falls! Would the sky be clear once we arrived? Somehow this hope kept me moving forward steadily.

“Can you see it? Right there, that yellow thing…” I looked to where the guide was pointing… I could see what looked like a yellow wall!

“Yes! I can see it!”, I said. Just a little bit more to go!

Once I saw the destination, my footsteps seemed to become lighter. As we drew closer and closer to the yellow waterfall, my chest was pounding with excitement.
We finally arrived at the Yellow Falls! They were more impressive than I had imagined—their mysterious golden color was stunning!

There wasn’t a waterfall here originally, but little by little, water containing iron began to spring up and freeze into a golden color, becoming this mysterious gift of nature.
Unless it’s really cold, it doesn’t freeze over this splendidly. The size differs each year.

“This year it looks particularly marvelous!”, the guide said. Up close, I could appreciate its mystical angularity. It was pretty… almost similar to beeswax. After we took a commemorative photo, the guide dug up a table and chairs out of snow. Taking a little break while watching the Yellow Falls was beyond amazing! We took out the famous Fukushima sweets “Mamador” that we had bought at the train station. It just so happened that the guide had brought the same cakes, only chocolate flavored ones. We indulged in a tea party with the two kinds of “Mamador” cakes. I took a sip, and wanted to cry as the warmth from the hot drink warmed me up. I was freezing!

(Lower left) “Mamador” is a famous confection from Fukushima, made with a wrapped and baked dough and a milk flavored bean paste filling.

Going back while enjoying the fun of the winter mountains.

Mr. Igarashi suggested that on the way back we passed through the forest.

Coincidentally, at the exact moment we left the Yellow Falls, it started snowing again. It felt as if the snow had held on up until we returned. I thanked the gods of Urabandai mountains for the clear skies up until then! As the snow storm came, the guide told us to look at our gloves.

What a pleasant surprise! Tiny snowflakes were dancing and falling around my gloves before disappearing. It was the first time I saw snowflake crystals distinctly with my naked eye. I was a little moved. You can’t always discern them like this in the winter—seeing this wonderful phenomenon depends on the temperature and humidity.

Something that looked like a bird’s nest on a branch caught my eye. I wondered what it was.

It stood out against the wintery scenery. I asked about it, and the guide told me it was mistletoe. He explained that it’s a kind of tree parasite caused by the feces of certain birds (particularly, some types of waxwings). During the summer, you can’t easily see the mistletoe, so it’s more difficult to notice it, but during the winter it seems like you could almost touch it, and it becomes easier to spot.

(Lower right) The mistletoe gives color to the winter forest. It’s so big!

While descending down the steep slopes, you can find footprints of animals as you head towards the basin.

“Will we see some footprints today?”, asked the guide. I searched for them.

“Ah, there they are!” The guide pointed somewhere—certainly, there were some footprints!

(Left middle)We tried to figure out which animal could’ve left those footprints, which disappeared deep into the forest.

I wondered what animal they belonged to. There seemed to be some hints. Are they small? Big? Are they zigzagging? The guide, like a great detective of the forest, taught me how to tell what animal those footprints belonged to. They were the footprints of a fox.
More than simply enjoying a walk in a snowy forest, the guide showed us its many joys, such as sucking into icicles, or diving full-body into the snow. Without a doubt, spending a full day in the snowy mountains helps you forget the exhaustion of everyday life.

By the time we got back to the Akanuma pond, we could see that the sky had completely cleared up. Even more, the sun was gleaming brightly! Behind us, the lines of the mountain ridge were clearly visible. Could this be our final reward? Before the getting on the lift, we high-fived with our guide for reaching our goal, and we descended the mountain.

You can also check here for an introduction to the climbing course and information about sightseeing in hiking trails in Urabandai.

Aizu area

Urabandai Goshiki-numa Ponds Trail

Difficulty:

Beginner

Walking time:

1 hour 10 minutes

Recommended season:

All year round

Read more about
hiking trails in Urabandai *

* Auto Translation page

Toasty tomato ramen warmed my cold body right up!

When we came back from the mountain, we were exhausted and hungry. We sat down for a hearty bowl of ramen at Yamanoeki Shokudo. Ramen with mountain salt (yama shio), made from the mountain springs, is a famous product from Urabandai. Apart from mountain salt ramen, there is also a popular hearty tomato ramen. If you add cheese to it, it becomes a little spicier and Western in flavor. It was so delicious! The menu had original ramen options with unusual ingredients, like tomato or lemon, apart from the famous “mountain salt” ramen. The manager of restaurant is a bright and cheerful woman, so I guess her personality is one of the reasons this restaurant is so popular.

Spot Information

Yamanoeki Shokudo

Address:

7082-1 Yamakamihara, Inawashiro Town, Yama District, Fukushima

Finish your trip soaking in the hot spring waters of Bandai-Atami

We simply had to conclude our trip to the Urabandai region with a visit to the onsen (Japanese hot springs). On the way back to Koriyama station, we went towards Bandai Atami, a hot spring town.

I was charmed at the idea of discovering a hidden gem that not many people go to. We finally made it to the communal bath house “Reisen” Yumoto Motoyu. As the day ended, the quiet onsen alley was lit up with red lamps which had an inviting glow. Before even entering, we could already feel its appeal. A smiling man greeted us with an “Irasshai!”, which means “welcome”. Our hearts had already softened before we even entered the hot springs.

It was a little after 4 p.m., and we headed into the hot springs bath. The bathing room was simple-looking. The dressing room was delightfully clean and tidy (it seemed like it had been recently remodeled).

When I entered, some locals showed me how to use the shower and how to enter the bath. There were two baths. One was extremely hot, and the other one was lukewarm.First, you’re supposed to enter the extremely hot bath until you sweat, and after that you go into the lukewarm bath. The locals did this for about an hour. I dipped my foot into the hot bath… it was indeed very hot! The water felt almost boiling, but I persisted until it gradually warmed up my body and felt pleasant.
After a while, I entered the lukewarm bath. At first, it felt like room-temperature water. After some time, I could feel that it’s actually lukewarm. It’s strange how perception changes as your body gets used to it. The onsen pulls water directly from the natural spring. The hot bath is 51°C (124°F), the lukewarm one is 33°C (91°F). What makes the spring waters of Bandai-Atami unique is that they are said to be effective against skin conditions like atopic dermatitis.
I wasn’t too surprised that I couldn’t do the full hour. When I came out, however, I was pleasantly warm.

The person at the counter bid us farewell with a smile, and once again we headed back to Koriyama.

When I look back on that trip to Urabandai, from the smelt fishing to the snowshoeing, the fun times spent enjoying the winter crystallize in my mind. More than anything, I treasure the memory of all the friendly people I met over those two days.

Tohoku, the Northern region of the main island of Japan, does have cold winters — but that’s not all there is to it. There’s enjoyment waiting in the cold, windy outdoors, and warm people who will make you feel welcome.

You should most definitely visit the amazing Urabandai region!

Spot information

Bandai Atami Onsen Yumoto Motoyu

Address:

4-22 Atami, Atami Town, Koriyama City

URL：

Bandai Atami Onsen Yumoto Motoyu