Aizu-Yanaizu station (会津柳津） is located in the town of Yanaizu (柳津町).
The area from here on is called Oku-Aizu, which is a mountainous area.
There will be a lot of scenes delighting people who are interested in the Japanese countryside.
Yanaizu is known as a sightseeing spot and the birthplace of a famous Japanese folk toy “Akabeko”.
It has a historical temple, a lot of inns with hot springs, a popular Manju (sweet bun), and etc.
In addition, A unique traditional festival is held there every year.
Enzo temple (円蔵寺 Enzō-ji) is the temple which stands on a sheer cliff along Tadami river.
The temple enshrines Kokuzo Bosatsu (Akasagarbha Bodhisattva) and is regarded as one of the three biggest temples that enshrine Kokuzo Bosatsu in Japan.
They say it was built in about A.D 800 by Tokuitsu (徳一) who came from Nara, and once was destroyed by a big earthquake in 1611 but after that rebuilt in its present place.
Enzo temple had been worshiped by not only the successive feudal lord in Aizu but also other powers of the time such as Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and especially Tokugawa family.
You can see the splendid sculptures on the entrance
and the wonderful view from the stage of the temple.
Moreover, it has the wide ground so you can enjoy strolling there, especially when the leaves change color in autumn.
By the way, did you know "Akabeko (赤べこ)"?
Akabeko is a Japanese folk toy which is widely familiar to people in Japan.
Akabeko means “red cow”.
Maybe some of you will have already seen one.
Enzo temple is the birthplace of Akabeko and has a legend of red cows.
The legend seems to have several versions, so it isn’t clear which is correct.
As written in Wikipedia, there is a legend of red cows that appeared when Enzo temple was built in about A.D.800.
However, I hear Enzo temple claims that the legendary red cows appeared during the reconstruction after the big earthquake in 1611.
Anyway, Akabeko originates from the red cows that helped people with the construction of Enzo temple and were appreciated and worshiped by the people.
You will see a variety of “Akabeko” when you travel in Aizu.
In addition, a traditional and curious festival called “Nanokado hadaka mairi” is held on 7th January every year.
The festival is that a lot of men wearing loincloths climb a rope in the hall at night.
Some kids also challenge it in the crowd!
It seems difficult to climb the rope because the upper part of it is thick so not all participants succeed in finishing climbing.
The hall is filled with excitement with the participants.
The festival originates from a legend that people living there made a commotion to drive away a dragon god that tried to get a treasure in the temple a long time ago.
In recent years, not only people from other prefectures in Japan but also overseas visitors are often seen in the festival.
A yellow sweet bun called “Awa-manju” in Yanaizu is famous and very popular.
There are several stores selling it and other buns on the street which passes below Enzo temple.
Some of the stores have people lined up on holidays.
Under a suspension bridge across the Tadami River, there is a place called “Uobuchi (魚淵)” in which fish called Ugui (ウグイ), Japanese dace (big-scaled redfin) live as a school.
The fish also have a legend that a long time ago, a Buddhist monk spilled out wood chips into the river, then the wood chips changed into the fish.
Uobuchi was designed as a national nature treasure.
You can give feed to them there.
The Kiyoshi Saito Museum of Art has the collection of Kiyoshi Saito who was from Aizu and an internationally successful printmaker.
The Kiyoshi Saito Museum has not only his great works but also other things that will entertain you.
You can enjoy seeing their animation image.
I recommend you to have a look at the scenery outside in Yanaizu over the coffee sold in the hall after appreciating his works
The merchandises of them will surely be good souvenirs in Yanaizu.
Please check the website of [the Kiyoshi Saito Museum of Art].
As described above, Yanaizu has many sights to see and is worth visiting.
They seem to welcome tourists from abroad.
Please check their PR movie.