Ouchijuku
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
684 reviews
Excellent
180
Very good
345
Average
143
Poor
7
Terrible
9
Jacque W
22 contributions
Dec 2019
Overall the day visit was quite pleasant with nice cooling weather. Just too bad numbers of the shop was not open. The Soba noddles and the grilled salt fish was delicious and they have beautiful shrine over there. A short day trip was worthy.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elina S
Helsinki, Finland362 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
I'm very sorry to say this but the place is definitely not worth visiting. It takes an hour (not covered with Japan Rail Pass) to get there from Aizu, and then it takes 30 min to see everything there is to be seen, it is one street and one view.
Written 11 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PA88
Palo Alto, CA284 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
If you drive to Ouchijuku from above on the mountain road, you will first come to a restaurant that's just before the village. The restaurant has a large, gravel parking area. The car in front of us pulled into it and so we followed as we didn't know where the village parking was. Turns out, there's a secret path from here to the top of the Ouchijuku village that's shorter than walking from the official parking lots. The path starts next to the restaurant and is an improved walkway, with steps down and a bridge across the creek to a road that goes to the village. After visiting the village we had a zaru soba snack at the restaurant and their homemade soba was better than what we had in the village.
Written 3 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas K
Taipei, Taiwan239 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
Ōuchi-juku（大內宿） was an important post town along the Aizu West Road（会津西街道）in the Edo period which was once one of the main traffic lines. Nowadays, this village is famous for the traditional thatched-roof(茅葺屋根）houses cluster and is included into “The Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings” by the Japanese Government.
The village is small, and around 50 thatched buildings stand along an approximate 400- meter road. It takes about half an hour to walk around. In winter, the snow-covered landscape is really pretty. Yet, compared with the Shirakawa-gō (白川村), which is well-known for Gassho-style(合掌造り) thatched houses cluster, Ōuchi-juku is not as astounding as the latter.
Many declined rural villages in Japan have revived themselves by Community Development（まちづくり）. Ōuchi-juku has also been transforming itself into a popular tourist spot.
However, I would say that the Community Development of Ōuchi-juku is not quite successful. The village’s appearance is more commercial rather than cultural. Nearly half of the thatched houses are adopted as diners now, and most diners serve the same item-- soba. While walking through the main street, one might sense a repetitious feel, rather than diverse
大內宿在江戶時代是交通要道會津西道路上的重要驛站；如今則是以茅草屋頂(茅葺屋根）的民屋聚落聞名，並被日本政府列入傳統建築群保留區。
村落很小，約五十個茅草民屋座落在長約四百公尺的馬路兩旁，大約花半小時可逛完。冬天大雪覆蓋的景色很漂亮，但比起白川村合掌村，大內宿沒那麼讓人驚艷震撼。
日本很多衰敗農村都藉社區營造（町造，まちづくり）而重生；大內宿如今也轉型成著名觀光景點。
不過，我認為大內宿的町造並不算成功。整個村落風貌商業氣息濃於文化氣息，幾乎一半的茅草民屋現在開起餐廳，而絕大多數餐廳都提供同樣的食物──蕎麥麵。走在大街上讓人覺得單調而不夠多元。
The village is small, and around 50 thatched buildings stand along an approximate 400- meter road. It takes about half an hour to walk around. In winter, the snow-covered landscape is really pretty. Yet, compared with the Shirakawa-gō (白川村), which is well-known for Gassho-style(合掌造り) thatched houses cluster, Ōuchi-juku is not as astounding as the latter.
Many declined rural villages in Japan have revived themselves by Community Development（まちづくり）. Ōuchi-juku has also been transforming itself into a popular tourist spot.
However, I would say that the Community Development of Ōuchi-juku is not quite successful. The village’s appearance is more commercial rather than cultural. Nearly half of the thatched houses are adopted as diners now, and most diners serve the same item-- soba. While walking through the main street, one might sense a repetitious feel, rather than diverse
大內宿在江戶時代是交通要道會津西道路上的重要驛站；如今則是以茅草屋頂(茅葺屋根）的民屋聚落聞名，並被日本政府列入傳統建築群保留區。
村落很小，約五十個茅草民屋座落在長約四百公尺的馬路兩旁，大約花半小時可逛完。冬天大雪覆蓋的景色很漂亮，但比起白川村合掌村，大內宿沒那麼讓人驚艷震撼。
日本很多衰敗農村都藉社區營造（町造，まちづくり）而重生；大內宿如今也轉型成著名觀光景點。
不過，我認為大內宿的町造並不算成功。整個村落風貌商業氣息濃於文化氣息，幾乎一半的茅草民屋現在開起餐廳，而絕大多數餐廳都提供同樣的食物──蕎麥麵。走在大街上讓人覺得單調而不夠多元。
Written 10 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shinitsu N
San Jose, California47 contributions
May 2017
Once you step in the street, you feel like slipping into 200 years ago. It's like a Cotswolds there. All the old houses at the street has thatched roof and they are beautiful when you view from the hill back side of most upper side house.
Each houses are shops and restaurants. Those restaurants speciality is buckwheat noodle eating using green onion stick.
I enjoyed staying their about 3 hours including my lunch. I recommend this place to everyone who plan to visit Aizuwakamatsu area in Fukushima.
Each houses are shops and restaurants. Those restaurants speciality is buckwheat noodle eating using green onion stick.
I enjoyed staying their about 3 hours including my lunch. I recommend this place to everyone who plan to visit Aizuwakamatsu area in Fukushima.
Written 29 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LibsDibs
Sheffield66 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
We were taken here by my father in law and were completely blown away. The drive tehre through the mountains was amazing enough but this place topped off our day. This little linear town with traditional thatched buildings comprises a street with a stream and houses on either side. Most of the houses have been converted into shops selling the local speciality lacquerware and food and beverages. Make sure to try green tea soft cream, especially if you're there in summer, it's so refreshing! Also, many of the shops were selling soda and drinks cooled in the stream, and you can wash your hands in the clear, clean water afterwards. Perfection!
There's a great view from up the hill at the end of the village, and if you're lucky enough to be there in July, take some time to watch the housemartins, butterflies and dragonflies swooping around- it's really quite magical.
I honestly can't recommend this place enough. The amount of local tourists there speaks volumes. No vehicles in the main village means it's quite safe, but keep an eye on young ones near the streams. My one caveat would be that if you aren't keen on squat toilets then go in winter when you don't drink as much, or be prepared for a very long wait!
There's a great view from up the hill at the end of the village, and if you're lucky enough to be there in July, take some time to watch the housemartins, butterflies and dragonflies swooping around- it's really quite magical.
I honestly can't recommend this place enough. The amount of local tourists there speaks volumes. No vehicles in the main village means it's quite safe, but keep an eye on young ones near the streams. My one caveat would be that if you aren't keen on squat toilets then go in winter when you don't drink as much, or be prepared for a very long wait!
Written 17 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim S
Auckland, New Zealand32 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
If you have not been to a Japanese thatched village before you will likely enjoy the experience. If this is not your first then less so. Fairly small which means that more than a couple of tour buses swamps it and each of he old buildings is a souvenir shop so not great for photos.
Written 11 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex K
Chuo, Japan12 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
First time seeing so many buildings with old Japanese traditional roof known as kayabuki roof. Each house is nicely maintained & preserved into a shop or a restaurant in Ouchijuku. Very cool weather in this mountainous area. Proceed to the end of the street, climb up a small hill & you will be rewarded with a bird-eyed view of the whole area. Spent an hour in a nicely decorated coffee shop with coffee & Japanese dessert. From Tokyo, it's about 6 hours bus to Ouchijuku. Suggest to follow a tour group.
Written 27 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bomani
Richmond, Canada223 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
This is an old Edo period rest town that does not require a lot of time to visit but does require an hour or so to get there from Aizu-Wakamatsu. It is a very traditional thatched roof village. A long street has buildings on both sides that sell some souvenirs as well as delicious local products that are vacuum packed for transport. Nice photo ops but not much else except a nevi-soba shop for a lunch in a very traditional restaurant. Covered in snow and very cold in late November.
Written 3 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asterix135
Toronto, Canada202 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
I like old-style Japanese houses, and so was fairly excited to visit this place, as the guide book we had did a pretty good job of hyping it up.
The main street of the town does a great job of recreating the feel of a Edo-period village, and it's fun to walk up and down the street and look at the shops.
But other than one museum, pretty much all in Japanese, the town is essentially one big gift shop. I had hoped there might be something else to do, but after climbing the hill, taking a few photos and petting the cat that was hanging out in the middle of the street looking for attention, my kids got bored pretty quickly.
You can see the whole thing in an hour or two, unless you get there at lunch time, where it seems hand-made nevi-soba is the meal to eat.
It's a bit of a hike, and depending on your tastes could be a good time. But it's basically a photo-op and extended gift shop.
The main street of the town does a great job of recreating the feel of a Edo-period village, and it's fun to walk up and down the street and look at the shops.
But other than one museum, pretty much all in Japanese, the town is essentially one big gift shop. I had hoped there might be something else to do, but after climbing the hill, taking a few photos and petting the cat that was hanging out in the middle of the street looking for attention, my kids got bored pretty quickly.
You can see the whole thing in an hour or two, unless you get there at lunch time, where it seems hand-made nevi-soba is the meal to eat.
It's a bit of a hike, and depending on your tastes could be a good time. But it's basically a photo-op and extended gift shop.
Written 13 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As this is situated in Fukushima is it safe to get there ? I mean from the 2011 crisis .
Written 11 March 2020
My visitation during at Fukushima are quite pleasant. Overall the enviroment which i presumed should be safe for visiting.
Written 12 March 2020
You could google for the bus schedule. I tried posting the website links here but apparently TripAdvisor doesn't allow that.
Note that the bus service to the village halts during the winter months because of icy roads. According to the bus schedule site service is up to 23rd November.
Written 25 July 2019
10月28日に白布温泉～五色沼～大内塾へ行きます。
10：45頃に到着予定です。
（県道131経由でのルートで渋滞はないとして考えています）
皆さんのご指摘では、時間が11時前と遅いので駐車場へ入るのにかなり時間がとられそうで・・・
・大内塾の有料、無料駐車場はそれぞれ何台分あるのでしょうか？
・無料と有料とありますが空いているほうでいいのですが。
・10月末はの日曜日ですが、全般的な混雑は例年はどうでしたでしょうか？
帰りに
県道131号⇒R289で白川IC・・・南下へ向かう予定です。
この間の県道131号は通行に問題ありませんでしょうか？
その他、アドバイス等がありましたらお願いします。
Written 29 September 2018
駐車場の容量については既に回答済みなので割愛します。
会津方面には毎年春、秋に出かけていますが10月末から１１月初旬にかけては紅葉シーズンで相当混み合う事間違い無いでしょう。
更に到着時間の１１時は大内宿散策後の古民家での蕎麦を狙ってのゴールデンタイム、訪問者の出入りが鈍くなる時間帯です。
最悪一時間待ちは要覚悟ではないでしょうか。
近辺の道路事情は大内宿駐車場へのアクセスを除き比較的空いており過去に大きな渋滞に巻き込まれた事はありません。
１３１号経由白河ICは正解ですね。
Written 2 October 2018
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