🕓 2024/9/13
#Hotels
About Fukushima
Fukushima Prefecture is known as a region where beautiful nature and rich culture thrive. Located in the southern part of the Tohoku region, this prefecture offers scenic views that change with the seasons and attracts many visitors from Japan and abroad as a popular tourist destination. Particularly famous sightseeing spots include Mount Bandai, Goshikinuma (Five-Colored Lakes), and Tsuruga Castle in Aizu Wakamatsu, showcasing the appeal of abundant nature and historic landmarks.
Additionally, Fukushima is a region that retains a deep sense of history and tradition, with cultural highlights such as the Aizu Festival and the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival. Furthermore, Fukushima is known as a fruit-producing area, particularly famous for its peaches, apples, and pears, which are beloved by many people.
Here, we present three carefully selected luxury hotels that offer a special stay when visiting Fukushima.
- Top 3 Luxury Hotels in Fukushima Prefecture
- Ookawaso
- ■ The Appeal of “Ookawaso”
- ■ Access Information for “Ookawaso”
Top 3 Luxury Hotels in Fukushima Prefecture
Ookawaso
Source: Ookawaso Official Website
■ The Appeal of “Ookawaso”
“Ookawaso” is a long-established ryokan located in Ashinomaki Onsen in the Aizu area of Fukushima Prefecture, offering a luxurious retreat surrounded by rich nature. Below is a detailed introduction to its main attractions.
1. Terraced Open-Air Bath “Shiki Butai Tanada” 
Ookawaso’s “Shiki Butai Tanada” is an open-air bath arranged in terraced levels like rice paddies, and its unique design is a major attraction. Overlooking the valley, this bath offers panoramic views of the changing natural beauty throughout the four seasons — fresh greenery in spring, autumn foliage in fall, and snowy landscapes in winter. The roof is made of Japanese cypress, allowing guests to relax in the soothing fragrance of wood. This hot spring uses the abundant hot spring water of Ashinomaki Onsen, which is known to be effective for neuralgia and fatigue recovery.
2. Shamisen Performance Hospitality 
Another distinctive feature of Ookawaso is the hospitality of welcoming guests with a live shamisen performance upon arrival. This performance takes place on a floating stage within the inn, where the sounds of the traditional Japanese instrument harmonize with the murmuring of the river to create a mystical atmosphere. This floating stage has become a topic of discussion among fans of the anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” due to its design reminiscent of the Infinity Castle. The stage is said to resemble the Japanese aesthetic world depicted in the story, making it a must-see for Demon Slayer fans as well.
3. Authentic Kaiseki Cuisine and Aizu Local Sake 
At Ookawaso, guests are served authentic Japanese kaiseki cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients nurtured by the rich nature of the Aizu region. In particular, the dining area called “KAWADOKO” offers meals while overlooking the valley, allowing guests to enjoy their food while taking in the natural beauty. The dishes prepared in the live kitchen are all crafted to bring out the best of seasonal ingredients. Additionally, a wide selection of local Aizu sake is available, curated by a certified sake sommelier. The dining experience, paired with local cuisine, allows guests to savor the terroir of Aizu.
4. Comprehensive Relaxation Facilities 
Ookawaso offers not only hot springs but also comprehensive relaxation facilities. The pink salt sauna and the bakuhanseki stone sauna, where you can warm your body while lying down, are ideal for thoroughly warming your body from the core. Furthermore, full-body massage and foot care relaxation menus are also available, allowing guests to refresh both mind and body.
■ Access Information for “Ookawaso”
- Official Website: https://www.ookawaso.co.jp/
- Access: About 5 minutes by free shuttle bus from Ashinomaki Onsen Station
- Address: 984 Shimotaira, Ashinomaki, Oaza, Oto-machi, Aizu Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 969-5147
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bCpThgVEW1PmvWZy7
Oyado Kawasemi
Source: Oyado Kawasemi Official Website
■ The Appeal of “Oyado Kawasemi”
“Oyado Kawasemi” is a luxury hot spring ryokan located in Iizaka Onsen, Fukushima Prefecture. Its charm lies in its luxurious accommodation experience that blends traditional Japanese beauty with modern comfort. Surrounded by rich nature, the inn offers the four seasons’ changing scenery, premium hot springs, and fine cuisine. Below is a detailed introduction to its attractions.
1. An Inn of Fine Cuisine 
The greatest appeal of Oyado Kawasemi is its creative kaiseki cuisine made with seasonal ingredients. Using carefully selected ingredients sourced from throughout Japan and around the world, a monthly-changing kaiseki menu is served. In particular, the a la carte dishes called “Ginmi Tokusen” feature luxurious and creative menus that make the most of seasonal ingredients. Dishes using wagyu beef, abalone, and truffle delight the palates of guests, and the high number of repeat visitors is a testament to their quality.
2. Scenic Views Surrounded by Nature 
“Oyado Kawasemi” is a ryokan nestled within a vast natural forest spanning approximately 3,000 tsubo (about 10,000 square meters) in Iizaka Onsen, Fukushima Prefecture. Its natural beauty is one of its greatest charms. The gardens offer beautiful views that change with the seasons, from cherry blossoms in spring to autumn foliage in fall. Surrounded by lush greenery, guests can spend a truly extraordinary and relaxing time, enveloped in birdsong and the rustling of leaves.
3. Hot Springs and After-Bath Services 
The hot springs include both indoor and outdoor baths, with the outdoor baths providing a relaxing environment surrounded by nature. There is also a far-infrared “Kamakura Sauna” that promotes a pleasant sweat while refreshing the body. After bathing, yogurt and cold drinks are available in the lounge, ensuring a comfortable post-bath experience.
4. Unique and Comfortable Guest Rooms 
There are 12 individually designed guest rooms, each with a unique decor. All rooms are equipped with ancient Japanese cypress baths, allowing guests to enjoy the hot springs to their heart’s content in a private space. The first-floor special rooms in particular come with an outdoor bath, and stepping out onto the veranda reveals a garden and bamboo grove where guests can enjoy watching wild birds while spending quiet, tranquil moments..
■ Access Information for “Oyado Kawasemi”
- Official Website: https://www.hisuinosato.com/
- Access: 10 minutes by shuttle from Iizaka Onsen Station
- Address: 2-14 Hisui no Sato, Iizaka Onsen, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture 960-0201
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gkLPMifRMkMUXFx48
Harataki – Inn with Its Own Hot Spring Source
Source: Harataki – Inn with Its Own Hot Spring Source Official Website
■ The Appeal of “Harataki – Inn with Its Own Hot Spring Source”
“Harataki – Inn with Its Own Hot Spring Source” is a hot spring inn located in Aizu Higashiyama Onsen, Fukushima Prefecture, surrounded by rich nature. This inn combines cuisine that makes the most of local ingredients with hot springs, providing visitors with special healing and luxurious moments. Below is a summary of its attractions.
1. Free-Flowing Hot Spring from Their Own Source 
The most distinctive feature of Harataki is its use of a private hot spring source, which is rare even among the hot springs of Higashiyama Onsen. All outdoor and private baths feature free-flowing hot spring water directly from the source, allowing guests to enjoy the natural hot spring just as it emerges. Bathing while gazing at the natural waterfall “Harataki” is an extraordinary experience, with the soothing sound of the waterfall and river breezes creating a sense of becoming one with nature. The private baths offer different experiences, including large tubs made of Aomori Hiba wood and Shigaraki-yaki ceramic tubs.
2. Guest Rooms with Valley Views 
The guest rooms at Harataki are special spaces for enjoying the valley scenery throughout the four seasons. The special rooms with panoramic baths in particular allow guests to take in the beauty of nature as it changes — fresh greenery in spring, deep green in summer, autumn foliage in fall, and snowy landscapes in winter. Guests can enjoy the inn’s private hot spring source in a private setting, with spacious bathtubs and comfortable Japanese-Western style furnishings providing a healing retreat away from everyday life.
3. Savoring the Flavors of Aizu 
At Harataki, guests can enjoy cuisine made with seasonal local ingredients from the Aizu region. In particular, dining at “Mizube no Dining Kawadoko,” which is set along the river, offers luxurious dishes centered on local specialties such as charcoal-grilled Aizu free-range chicken and Fukushima beef, accompanied by the four seasons’ natural scenery. The dishes are prepared in a live kitchen, using meticulous cooking methods that bring out the savory flavors of the free-range chicken. The dining experience at the restaurant, which features an adjacent foot bath, provides a special experience of enjoying both food and scenery.
■ Access Information for “Harataki”
- Official Website: https://www.yumeguri.co.jp/index.php
- Access: Shuttle bus service from Aizu Higashiyama Onsen Station and Aizu Bukeyashiki
- Address: 235 Yumoto, Higashiyama-machi, Aizu Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 965-0814
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VoatJjfZ2G1ko5R18