- Hey, guys. How's it going?
It's Micaela, and today we are in Osaka.
Today we are starting our trip in Osaka,
a loud, boisterous city with flashing lights,
big crowds, and saucy flavorful foods.
This is a fun city to explore before heading towards
the more peaceful countryside of rural Japan.
Good morning. Now, we are at Itami Airport in Osaka.
This is actually my first time using Itami Airport.
I've used the Kansai International Airport before
and I've been there a few times for work
but this is my first time using Itami and it's pretty cool.
Like this is a lot going on here.
It's really cozy.
You may be wondering why a series
about Tohoku starts off in Osaka,
and that is because at Itami Airport,
there are actually 39 flights in a day
that head to the Tohoku region.
And I'm sure that you guys have heard
that the rail pass is gonna get more expensive
from the fall.
And if you were thinking of using the rail pass
to travel around Japan economically
it might not make sense depending on your itinerary.
Flying in Japan is actually a lot cheaper
than you would think
and it's really convenient and it's less time consuming.
So, I've checked in my luggage, I'm all good to go.
I have my ticket
and I'm about to board my flight to Fukushima.
(air whooshing)
I love it.
Love it, love it, love it. (groans)
I love propeller planes. (laughs)
I'm very excited right now.
(upbeat music)
Okay, so we have arrived at Fukushima Airport.
The airport's quite small and quiet
but very easy to navigate.
You kind of just hop off the plane and you're here.
So, yeah.
Over the next four days we'll be exploring
the Tohoku region and we're starting here in Fukushima.
I can't wait to see what's in store for me.
Let's go.
Fukushima is very green.
There is so much nature
and it's kind of interesting seeing how
the seasons are delayed.
We saw some wisteria and the wisteria have already bloomed
and disappeared down where I live,
so it's cool to see the flowers
that I thought I have missed seasonally
are like still alive and well up here.
Our first stop on our trip through Fukushima
is the Abukuma Cave, a 600 meter long walking course
through stalactites, underground rivers, rock towers,
and grottos.
The discovery course is a bit intense
and those taller than the average Japanese might struggle
to make it through some of the tighter squeezes.
You really do have to squat and you have to suck in
your belly, and you have to just pray
that you fit through the crevices
'cause some of these are really, really,
really tight squeezes.
(upbeat music)
It definitely makes an impact to view this part of the cave.
It's really cool. I haven't seen a bat though.
I really, really, really wanna see a bat.
I don't know if we're gonna see any today though.
I guess I'll have to come again.
So, after visiting the cave, we got super hungry
and we came to get a local organic lunch
at Niku To Yasai No Nouka Italian Arigato.
And this is an Italian restaurant
that specializes in organic farms from the Koriyama area
here in Fukushima Prefecture.
So, eating here is a great way to support local farmers
and try lots of local vegetables and meats.
(gentle music)
In the afternoon, we did a deep dive
into Fukushima's rich history and Samurai culture,
touring some of the most significant spots in Aizuwakamatsu.
So, we have arrived at Nisshinkan, which is a replica
of the Samurai school that originally existed
here in the region.
The original, unfortunately burnt down,
but this one has been faithfully reconstructed
to very accurately reflect the type of school
that Samurai children went to back in the day,
and now it serves as a museum
and also has a lot of really interesting
unique hands-on experiences.
So, we're going to learn how to shoot
a bow and arrow. (laughs)
(Micaela speaks indistinctly)
Shooting a bow and arrow is something
that I've never tried before,
so I was really excited to get in there
and figure this out.
Bam.
- Aw. - Almost.
They say to make sure that the feather
is pointing up so that it flies nicely.
You wanna pinch with your thumb and your pointer finger
and instead of pulling, push your left hand,
and push the bow out with this hand
rather than pull with this hand.
One, two, three.
(Micaela shouting) (bow snaps)
(arrow thudding)
(Micaela exhales)
It's not easy being a samurai.
Let's just say I probably won't be graduating
from samurai school anytime soon.
(water sloshes) Whoa.
(upbeat music)
After Nisshinkan, we stopped by
the charming, Tsuruga-jo Castle.
Having recently been renovated,
the inside is full of interactive displays
giving a brief history of the region.
But my personal recommendation is to head to the top floor.
Castles were always built to have the best panoramic views
of the city, so if you wanna get an idea of where you are
it's always a good idea to head to the top.
(upbeat music)
The Akabeko or red cow is a constant recurring symbol
here in Aizu.
Beko means cow in regional dialect
and these paper mache Akabeko figures
are said to help ward off illnesses.
We came to Warabi so we could customize
our very own Akabeko.
Well, technically mine's orange.
(Micaela speaking in foreign language)
And no trip to Aizu is complete without visiting the onsen,
we checked into a gorgeous ryokan in the hills
of the Higashiyama Onsen region
which boast private open air baths
looking over a gorgeous green forest and river.
This is incredible.
I've never seen such a luxurious dinner.
We get to eat right by the river
and there's so many layers to this coarse meal.
It doesn't get any better than this.
This is the best.
This is the best meal I've had in a very long time.
And you can't beat the view.
After a busy first day.
It's time to sleep and get ready for day two.
Of course, I kept my Akabeko out for good luck.
(upbeat music)
He brought beautiful sunny weather for our second day
in Fukushima, which was perfect for our first stop.
The stunning and peaceful Sazae-do Temple
named after the shellfish, Sazae, or Turban Shell.
It is the only wooden building
with a double helix structure in the whole world.
It's not only a religious monument
but a truly fascinating building as well.
So, one of the really interesting points about the way
that the Sazae-do is constructed
is that whether you're going up or down,
it's designed so that you don't pass other people.
You won't pass people going up if you're on your way down
and you won't pass people going down
if you're on your way up.
At the nearby Mt. Iimori,
you can find a monument to a group of Samurai boys
who kept watch over the town who died tragically
by their own hands when they thought Tsuruga Castle
had been defeated.
It's a bit hard to see, but the castle is definitely
within range of this viewpoint.
(gentle music)
For our last spot in Aizu, we stopped by Shimogo.
A town with an estimated population of just 5,000 people.
Here in the historical village of Ouchijuku,
you can pass through a settlement that was popular
as a rest stop for travelers during the Edo period.
These days, it is a popular rest stop for travelers
from all over the world with souvenir shops, restaurants,
and refreshments being sold along the walking paths
and breathtaking views from the top of the mountain.
(gentle music)
So, when you come to Ouchijuku
you absolutely have to try the takata soba.
This is a massive leak, negi.
Oh, this is hard.
Who thought of this? - Like you're mixing it.
- You are supposed to use the green onion
instead of chopsticks to eat the soba
while also gnawing on it as a condiment.
It's supposed to have medicinal properties
and help keep you healthy.
Negi soba is also apparently a traditional dish at weddings.
To be honest, the soba was pretty good too.
This is crazy.
I don't know who thought of this
or why they thought of this, but it's a thing
and it's kind of funny and really interesting,
so if you're in Ouchijuku
and you're looking for a place to eat
try the negi soba, the takato soba. (grunts)
After this, we headed to Koriyama Station
to hop on the Shinkansen and head to our next destination.
Make sure you watch next time to see where we end up.
(air whooshing)
(upbeat music)
(water plinking)
(air whooshing)
♪ Is it you ♪
(birds squealing) (person giggling)
- Aye. - Aye.
- All right.
(upbeat music)