Today we are stopping off again in Ochijuku, this former post station from the Edo period. Ochijuku is located on the former Aizu-Nishi Kaido trade route, which connected Aizu with Nikko in the Edo period and from there led on to Edo, today's Tokyo. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Tokugawa shogunate, travelers in Edo period Japan had to cover their long distances on foot, which is why so-called juku developed along the trade routes, post stations that offered travelers food and accommodation.
Most of these juku have long since disappeared, but Ouchijuku has managed to survive. The town has been partially preserved as it was in the Edo period. Among other things, the telephone and electricity cables were buried so as not to disturb the overall appearance. The unpaved former main street is lined with thick thatched-roof houses that are home to a variety of stores, restaurants and minshuku (small traditional Japanese inns).
The stores stand out in particular, and there are plenty of them in Ochijuku. To be honest, the restored street scene is one big shopping street where you can buy a whole host of souvenirs. But the way the whole thing is wrapped up and presented here is a little different. It feels rather charming and more local, which is precisely why it is so inviting to visit this still historic place.
The last time we were here was at the end of winter and there was still a lot of snow and long, often brown icicles had formed on many roofs. As soon as it thaws, from time to time you should probably take a careful look up to avoid unwanted surprises,
But especially against this wintry backdrop, the stores looked extremely attractive and it was fun to check out the respective offers. The atmosphere was also very relaxed and there were no sellers trying to push their goods on you.
As mentioned, in this former center of the village there are still a lot of buildings from the Edo period, which has now been over for a century and a half. Even though many things have of course been restored and probably also modernized a little, you still get an impression of what it may have looked like here in earlier times. Even if you have to ignore the many small stores.
These stores offered a large and extensive range of souvenirs, some of which could of course also be purchased in other tourist resorts. Unfortunately, the selection is often very similar, which may also be due to the actual production site.
But there was also a whole host of locally made products. One store, for example, offered handicrafts and clothing produced in the region.
And we also found a lot of local specialties, because Ochichuko and the Aizu region also have plenty to offer in culinary terms. We discovered many local snacks and pickled vegetables, as well as sauces and spices, and above all soba, buckwheat noodles, which are very typical of this region.
Fortunately, Ochijuku is not just about shopping. We hadn't come here for that, but rather wanted to take a look at this interesting charming scenery, especially with all the snow.
It was fun to just walk along the main street and look around, knowing that we were on vacation. We had brought enough time with us and didn't stick to the route that most visitors take, but also looked around a little off the beaten track. But I will tell you more of that another time, when I will also show you a little more of the deep snow, which became quite obvious as soon as we left the main street.
To finish todays post, I will leave you with a picture that perhaps best illustrates the charm of Ochijuku. At the end of the main street, as you walk up the hill a little, we were presented with a wonderful view of the town with its snow-covered thatched roof houses. The view we enjoyed of the place, which was lying there so quietly in front of us, must have been the same for a very long time. Whether the people during the Edo period also took a break from their daily hustle and bustle to enjoy such a view is a matter of speculation. But I'm sure that in the future, many visitors will continue to come up here after walking past all the stores down there and, just like me, pull out their camera and take a photo. And that photo is almost perfect as a lasting memory. Trust me...
