Highlights of Aizu: 3-day 2-night tour in Fukushima

Start off your adventure in Fukushima with a deep-dive into a pop-culture phenomenon at the Sukagawa Tokusatsu Archives Center. Sukagawa is the hometown of Eiji Tsuburaya, a ground-breaking special effects director and cinematographer and co-creator of such monumental works as Godzilla and the Ultraman franchise, known by the moniker “Father of Tokusatsu.” Tokusatsu is a Japanese term meaning special effects, and is frequently used to describe not only filmmaking techniques, but also the genre of films springing from those techniques, usually sci-fi, monster, and superhero movies. Explore the techniques and culture of Japanese special effects filmmaking at this unique museum.

One of Tsuburaya’s most enduring creations, beloved by Japanese both young and old, the masked hero character Ultraman is a fixture of Sukagawa City. Make a stop by the Sukagawa City Community Plaza and register yourself as a resident of the Land of Light in the M78 nebula, the home land of Ultraman.

Enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant founded in the late 70s and beloved by locals and travelers alike for its relaxed atmosphere and homey food.

Continue on your journey by travelling around the city on a pilgrimage to all 13 of the Ultraman monuments erected in Sukagawa. Along your way, spot and snack on Ultraman breads and sweets and other tasty delights inspired by the superhero franchise.

In deep contrast to the futuristic and explosively fun action of the tokusatsu genre, your next destination will be a journey to the past and a slower-paced life, as you explore Ouchi-juku. A former post town along a trade route used in the Edo period, Ouchi-juku was established as a haven for travelers, where they could have access to food, accommodations, and rest on their long journeys by foot. Restored today to look much as it did in former days, Ouchi-juku’s paths are lined with thatched-roof buildings housing shops, restaurants, and inns. Take a stroll through the charming streets and imagine what life was like here hundreds of years ago.

Stay overnight at a traditional Japanese inn in Ashinomaki Onsen, a quiet hot springs town overlooking a peaceful river gorge. Enjoy the warm hospitality and traditional feel of the inn and its unusual terraced baths. Don’t miss the breathtaking lobby, which closely resembles the Infinity Castle from the popular manga and anime series, Demon Slayer.