Aizu Local Gourmet Trip

With the clear morning air of Kitakata, the journey of gourmet exploration begins at the gateway 'Kitakata Station.'
 As you step out of the ticket gate, you are welcomed by the beautiful contrast of white walls and black plaster in the station building, which is modeled after a 'kura' (storehouse), along with the warm design of red bricks. The nostalgic and dignified appearance, along with the real brick monument and retro post box in the station square, creates a perfect location for the first photo that announces the start of your journey.

We will come to pick you up according to the schedule.
 

The 'Asa Ramen' of Kitakata is a unique food culture where ramen is slurped as breakfast at ramen shops that open around 7 AM. It has become a highlight of tourism, boasting national recognition.

The background of the birth of Asa Ramen is said to have started with factory workers seeking warm meals after night shifts visiting early morning diners. The thriving agriculture also contributed to the habit of farmers stopping by for breakfast or snacks after finishing their early morning work.
While it may seem heavy to have ramen in the morning, Kitakata ramen is light and not greasy, with a flavor that seeps in the deliciousness of the broth, making it gentle on the awakening stomach.

Kitakata is known as the 'town of warehouses', many of which are deeply connected to sake brewing. The excellent brewing water from the sacred Mt. Iide, the fertile land of the Aizu basin that nurtures high-quality rice, and the harsh cold climate of winter—all the conditions for producing delicious sake are present in this area, where unique sake breweries that have continued since the Edo and Meiji periods still line the streets.

The charm of the brewery tours lies in hearing directly about the dedication and philosophy that each brewery maintains, such as how to polish rice, how to select yeast, and the revival of wooden barrel brewing. By understanding from the brewers' perspective why Aizu sake is so rich and crisp, the weight of a single cup changes. We will guide you directly to the breweries, where you can enjoy tasting a variety of unique brands, from standard junmai sake to seasonal limited namagenshu and sparkling sake.
 

Aizubange Town has flourished as a post town on the Echigo Road since ancient times, and due to the active traffic of horse-drawn carts, it has established a horse meat culture, being known as the 'birthplace of Aizu horse sashimi'.

Unlike the marbled horse sashimi found in Kumamoto and other regions, the horse meat from Aizubange is characterized by its pure 'premium lean meat (such as thigh and loin)' with almost no fat. It has no odor, is moist and tender, and the clear umami and sweetness of the lean meat spreads throughout your mouth with each bite.

Instead of a heavy set meal, the style of 'lightly snacking on fresh horse sashimi on the spot' is perfect for adjusting your appetite during a gourmet tour.

Nanokamachi Street in Aizuwakamatsu is the main street filled with the atmosphere of a castle town, where Western-style buildings and storehouses built from the Taisho to early Showa periods still remain. The calm streets lined with cobblestones are perfect for a leisurely stroll to settle your stomach between food tastings.

Along the street, there are select shops dealing in traditional crafts like Aizu lacquerware and Aizu cotton, retro cafes, and historic sake breweries, creating a photogenic landscape that makes you want to take pictures.

If you get a little hungry, take a break at the long-established miso brewery 'Mitsudaya', which has been in business since the late Edo period.

In the center of the shop is a traditional, heavy irori (sunken hearth). Around the crackling charcoal fire, seasonal ingredients skewered on bamboo sticks are lined up in a circle.

After receiving your order, artisans brush on a special sauce that has been passed down for years and grill it slowly. The moment the miso bubbles up from the heat of the charcoal and the grilled surface becomes fragrant with smoke is a feast for the eyes and ears. It’s filled with a live feeling that makes you want to capture it on video.
 

Finally, let's take a look at some souvenirs at a select shop in Aizu.
Located quietly near the historic Tenneiji Temple in the eastern part of Aizuwakamatsu is the 'Tenneiji Warehouse'. 
Originally an inorganic large warehouse used for storing pesticides and fertilizers, it has been renovated into a complex space that promotes crafts, design, and food culture that align with modern lifestyles.

The somewhat rugged and inorganic appearance of the exterior contrasts sharply with the high ceilings, warmth of wood, and sophisticated space that unfolds the moment you open the door, vividly stimulating your travel sensibilities. This special stop allows you to encounter 'the current sense of Aizu' as a conclusion to your day spent experiencing the traditional atmosphere of the castle town.

Starting from the clear air of Kitakata with morning dew, through the history of the sake brewery, the red horse sashimi of the highway, the retro streets of Nanokamachi, the charcoal fire of the irori, and the modern tranquility of Tennei-ji warehouse――. The gourmet exploration journey, filled with the five senses and camera memories, concludes with a delivery to the gateway of the castle town, "Aizuwakamatsu Station".

Because it's a completely private tour, you can keep your heavy luggage, such as souvenirs and photography equipment, in the car, making it light and comfortable until the end. We will smoothly deliver you to the station building at dusk.
See you again in Aizu!