- Tokyo Station to Ouchi-juku (Via Shin-Shirakawa)
- Koriyama Station to Ouchi-juku
- Fukushima Station to Ouchi-juku
- Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Ouchi-juku
Please note that all times are rough estimations and do not include accurate waiting times between stops.
Tokyo Station to Ouchi-juku
| Time taken (Approx.) | Approx. cost p.p.* | |
| JR Shinkansen, Local Trains & Taxi | 3.5 hours | 10,850 yen |
| JR Shinkansen & Tourist Bus | 3 hours | 8,270 yen |
* Prices may change depending on the taxi company / type of Shinkansen ticket chosen.
By Shinkansen & Local Train:
- Take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Koriyama Station.
- At Koriyama Station, switch to the Ban’etsu West Line and take the train heading to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station.
- Get off at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and switch on to the Tadami Line / Aizu Railways Line train bound for Aizu Tajima. (The first two stops will be on the Tadami Line, but then the train will change onto the Aizu Railways Line. There’s no need to swap trains as long as you’re on a train heading for Aizu Tajima).
- Get off the train after 30 minutes at Yunokami Onsen Station.
- From Yunokami Station, call a taxi. You’ll arrive at Ouchi-juku in around 10 minutes. Check my guide on using taxis in Japan.
By Shinkansen and Tourist Bus:
- Take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin-Shirakawa Station.
- Get off the train at Shin-Shirakawa Station and head out to the bus stops.
- Take the Tourist Bus straight to Ouchi-juku. This service only runs at the weekend and there are only 2 buses per day. This services does not run in the winter period (late-November to April).
- Buses leaving Shin-Shirakawa Station for Ouchi-juku: 11:15; 13:45
- Buses leaving Ouchi-juku for Shin-Shirakawa Station: 14:00; 16:05
- Location of bus stops:
Koriyama to Ouchi-juku
| Time taken (Approx.) | Approx. cost p.p. | |
| Drive (Expressways and National Roads)* | 1 hour 35 min | 1,490 yen* |
| Local Train & Tourist Bus | 2.5 hours | 2,340 yen |
| Local Train & Bus | 2.5 hours | 3,170 yen |
| Local Train & Taxi | 2 hours 10 | 3,170 yen** |
* Price estimate doesn’t include price of gas.
** Price may change depending on the individual taxi company.
By Car (Via Expressways):
- If you’re coming from Koriyama Station, take Koriyama I.C. onto the Tohoku Expressway, heading north towards Sendai.
- At Koriyama JCT, switch onto the Ban’etsu Expressway, heading west towards Niigata.
- Continue on this road until you get to Aizu-wakamatsu I.C. Exit at this I.C.
- Take local roads the rest of the way to Ouchi-juku.
By Local Train and Tourist Bus:
- Take the Ban’etsu West Line from Koriyama Station to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station.
- From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Tourist Bus straight to Ouchi-juku. This service only runs at the weekend and there are only 2 buses per day. This services does not run in the winter period (late-November to April).
- Buses leaving Aizu-Wakamatsu Station for Ouchi-juku: 9:30; 12:30
- Buses leaving Ouchi-juku for Aizu-Wakamatsu Station: 14:00; 16:10
- Location of bus stops:
By Local Train and Bus:
- Take the Ban’etsu West Line heading to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station.
- Get off at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and switch on to the Tadami Line / Aizu Railways Line train bound for Aizu Tajima. (The first two stops will be on the Tadami Line, but then the train will change onto the Aizu Railways Line. There’s no need to swap trains as long as you’re on a train heading for Aizu Tajima).
- Get off the train after 30 minutes at Yunokami Onsen Station.
- From there, take the Saruyu-go Bus to Ouchi-juku. (There might be a wait). This service only runs at the weekend and does not run in the winter period (late-November to April).
- A 1 day pass costs 1000 yen
- See bus times and bus stop information here
By Local Train and Taxi
- At Koriyama Station, switch to the Ban’etsu West Line and take the train heading to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station.
- Get off at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and switch on to the Tadami Line / Aizu Railways Line train bound for Aizu Tajima. (The first two stops will be on the Tadami Line, but then the train will change onto the Aizu Railways Line. There’s no need to swap trains as long as you’re on a train heading for Aizu Tajima).
- Get off the train after 30 minutes at Yunokami Onsen Station.
- From Yunokami Station, call a taxi. You’ll arrive at Ouchi-juku in around 10 minutes. Check my guide on using taxis in Japan.
Fukushima to Ouchi-juku
| Time taken (Approx.) | Approx. cost p.p. | |
| Drive (Expressways & National Roads)* | 2 hours | 2,310 yen* |
| Expressway Bus & Tourist Bus | 3 hours | 3,000 yen |
| Expressway Bus, Local Train & Bus | 2 hours 30 min | 3,830 yen |
| Expressway Bus, Local Train & Taxi | 2 hours 20 min | 3,830 yen** |
* Price estimate doesn’t include price of gas.
** Price may change depending on the individual taxi company.
By Car (Expressways):
- Take the Tohoku Expressway heading to Tokyo.
- At Koriyama JCT (Junction), change onto the Ban’etsu Expressway, heading west for Niigata.
- Keep on this expressway until you get to Aizu-Wakamatsu I.C. Exit the expressway here.
- From here, take local roads to Ouchi-juku.
By Expressway Bus & Tourist Bus:
- Take the expressway bus from Fukushima to Aizu-Wakamatsu.
- From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Tourist Bus straight to Ouchi-juku. This service only runs at the weekend and there are only 2 buses per day. This services does not run in the winter period (late-November to April). Buses leaving Aizu-Wakamatsu Station for Ouchi-juku: 9:30; 12:30
Buses leaving Ouchi-juku for Aizu-Wakamatsu Station: 14:00; 16:10
Location of bus stops:
By Expressway Bus, Local Train & Bus:
- Take the expressway bus from Fukushima to Aizu-Wakamatsu.
- From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Tadami Line / Aizu Railways Line train bound for Aizu Tajima. (The first two stops will be on the Tadami Line, but then the train will change onto the Aizu Railways Line. There’s no need to swap trains as long as you’re on a train heading for Aizu Tajima).
- Get off the train after 30 minutes at Yunokami Onsen Station.
- From there, take the Saruyu-go Bus to Ouchi-juku. This service only runs at the weekend and does not run in the winter period (late-November to April).
- A 1 day pass for this bus costs 1000 yen.
- See bus times and bus stop information here
By Expressway Bus, Local Train & Taxi:
- Take the expressway bus from Fukushima to Aizu-Wakamatsu.
- From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Tadami Line / Aizu Railways Line train bound for Aizu Tajima. (The first two stops will be on the Tadami Line, but then the train will change onto the Aizu Railways Line. There’s no need to swap trains as long as you’re on a train heading for Aizu Tajima).
- Get off the train after 30 minutes at Yunokami Onsen Station.
- From Yunokami Station, call a taxi. You’ll arrive at Ouchi-juku in around 10 minutes. Check my guide on using taxis in Japan.
Aizu-Wakamatsu to Ouchi-juku
| Time taken (Approx.) | Approx. cost p.p. | |
| Drive (National Roads)* | 55 min | — |
| Tourist Bus | 1 hour 15 min | 1,200 yen |
| Local Train & Bus | 60 min | 2,030 yen |
| Local Train & Taxi | 50 min | 2,030 yen** |
* You can go by national roads. This cost doesn’t include the price of gas.
** Price may change depending on the individual taxi company.
By Car (Expressways):
It takes around 55 minutes to drive from Aizu-Wakamatsu to Ouchi-juku via the national roads.
By Tourist Bus:
- From Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the Tourist Bus straight to Ouchi-juku. This service only runs at the weekend and there are only 2 buses per day. This services does not run in the winter period (late-November to April).
- Buses leaving Aizu-Wakamatsu Station for Ouchi-juku: 9:30; 12:30
- Buses leaving Ouchi-juku for Aizu-Wakamatsu Station: 14:00; 16:10
- Location of bus stops:
By Local Train & Bus:
- Take the Tadami Line / Aizu Railways Line train bound for Aizu Tajima. (The first two stops will be on the Tadami Line, but then the train will change onto the Aizu Railways Line. There’s no need to swap trains as long as you’re on a train heading for Aizu Tajima).
- Get off the train after 30 minutes at Yunokami Onsen Station.
- From there, take the Saruyu-go Bus to Ouchi-juku. This service only runs at the weekend and does not run in the winter period (late-November to April).
- A 1 day pass for this bus costs 1000 yen.
- See bus times and bus stop information here
By Local Train & Taxi:
- Take the Tadami Line / Aizu Railways Line train bound for Aizu Tajima. (The first two stops will be on the Tadami Line, but then the train will change onto the Aizu Railways Line. There’s no need to swap trains as long as you’re on a train heading for Aizu Tajima).
- Get off the train after 30 minutes at Yunokami Onsen Station. From Yunokami Station, call a taxi. You’ll arrive at Ouchi-juku in around 10 minutes. Check my guide on using taxis in Japan.
Saruyu-go Bus Information (Yunokami Onsen <-> Ouchi-juku)
Saruyu-go Bus times for 2019 (Until Nov 30)
- Leaving Yunokami Onsen Station: 9:00; 10:00; 10:40, 11:30; 12:50; 13:35; 14:30; 15:50
- Leaving Ouchi-juku for Yunokami: 9:20; 10:20; 11:00; 11:50; 13:10; 13:55; 15:00; 16:10
Location of bus stops:
