The Fukushima City Tourism Convention Association is opening reservations for the 2026 autumn-foliage season of "Jodo-daira Sky Access," a round-trip shuttle tour that makes it easy to enjoy the Bandai-Azuma Skyline, Fukushima Prefecture's celebrated scenic mountain road. Bookings are now open for the foliage season running October 1 to November 3, 2026.
The Bandai-Azuma Skyline is a scenic road stretching about 29 km with a highest elevation of 1,622 meters (average elevation 1,350 meters). Named one of Japan's 100 Best Roads for its rare mountain-road scale, it also served as a filming location for the 2026 film 免許返納⁉.
"Jodo-daira Sky Access" starts from Fukushima Station, about an hour and a half from Tokyo by Tohoku Shinkansen, and runs along the Bandai-Azuma Skyline to Jodo-daira — a scenic spot within Bandai-Asahi National Park where the rugged terrain of an active volcano meets the quiet of a highland wetland. It's a new secondary-transportation service that had not existed before.
Passengers can also choose to board or alight along the way at Takayu Onsen, making it possible to combine a visit to Jodo-daira with a stay at the hot-spring town before or after.
The Scenic Route
The shuttle departs from the west exit of JR Fukushima Station and passes through the charming hot-spring town of Takayu Onsen before entering the Bandai-Azuma Skyline, where riders take in the rugged slopes of Azuma-Kofuji and sweeping views of the Fukushima Basin below.
Two Daily Departures for Hikers and Sightseers
The tour runs two trips a day: a "5.5-hour stay" suited to hiking, and a "2-hour stay" for a more efficient sightseeing visit.
There is no service on days without reservations.
The Appeal of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline
The Bandai-Azuma Skyline opened in 1959 as Japan's first mountain road, and its historical value and scenery, shaped in harmony with nature, have earned it a place among Japan's 100 Best Roads. The grand, winding roughly 29-km road, running from Takayu Onsen to Tsuchiyu Onsen in Fukushima City, is known as a favorite for drives and motorcycle touring, and it was the filming location for the 2026 film 免許返納⁉.
Complete guide to the Bandai-Azuma Skyline and Jodo-daira
A parking area near Fudosawa Bridge lets visitors walk across it for views of the Fukushima Basin.
An autumn drive along the Bandai-Azuma Skyline pairs the dramatic form of Azuma-Kofuji with vivid fall colors.
The autumn foliage season draws more visitors than any other time of year.
The Azuma mountain range spans from western Fukushima City into Yamagata Prefecture, with peaks over 2,000 meters running east to west. Around Jodo-daira, the midpoint of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline, dynamic volcanic terrain and rich, expansive nature — including Mount Issaikyo, Azuma-Kofuji, and Goshiki-numa — offer numerous walking and hiking courses. The view of Goshiki-numa from the summit of Mount Issaikyo, nicknamed the "Witch's Eye," is a particular draw for hikers.
Jodo-daira has sections of boardwalk, making it easy to stroll through the wetlands.
Azuma-Kofuji: about a 10-minute climb up stairs from the Jodo-daira parking area leads to the rim of a crater roughly 500 meters across. Walking the full rim takes about an hour.
The area around the Jodo-daira parking lot, seen from Azuma-Kofuji. The mountain venting volcanic gas on the right is Mount Issaikyo; the Jodo-daira wetlands are on the left. The visitor center has exhibits on the national park's nature, the rest house serves Fukushima specialties, and an accessible restroom is on site.
Goshiki-numa in autumn, nicknamed the "Witch's Eye," seen from the summit of Mount Issaikyo. It's about a 90-minute hike one way from Jodo-daira to the summit — a reward worth the effort.
Plan Overview
- Travel period: October 1 (Thu) to November 3 (Tue, holiday), 2026, following the Bandai-Azuma Skyline's opening dates
- Departure points: Fukushima Station west-exit bus stop or in front of Attakayu at Takayu Onsen
- Price:
- Weekdays — Hiking: Adult ¥13,000 / Elementary school student ¥6,500 / Child (age 0–6) free
- Weekdays — Sightseeing: Adult ¥12,000 / Elementary school student ¥6,000 / Child (age 0–6) free
- Weekends and holidays — Hiking: Adult ¥15,000 / Elementary school student ¥7,500 / Child (age 0–6) free
- Weekends and holidays — Sightseeing: Adult ¥14,000 / Elementary school student ¥7,000 / Child (age 0–6) free
- Application deadline: 3:00 PM the day before departure (booking closes early if a trip fills up before then)
- Minimum group size: 1 person
Weekday schedule
| Fukushima Sta. | Takayu Onsen | Jodo-daira | Takayu Onsen | Fukushima Sta. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | Dep. 8:30 AM | Dep. 9:00 AM | Arr. 9:30 AM / 5.5-hr stay / Dep. 3:00 PM | Arr. 3:30 PM | Arr. 4:00 PM |
| Sightseeing | Dep. 9:30 AM | Dep. 10:00 AM | Arr. 10:30 AM / 2-hr stay / Dep. 12:30 PM | Arr. 1:00 PM | Arr. 1:30 PM |
Weekend and holiday schedule
| Fukushima Sta. | Takayu Onsen | Jodo-daira | Takayu Onsen | Fukushima Sta. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | Dep. 8:00 AM | Dep. 8:30 AM | Arr. 9:30 AM / 5.5-hr stay / Dep. 3:00 PM | Arr. 3:30 PM | Arr. 4:00 PM |
| Sightseeing | Dep. 9:30 AM | Dep. 10:00 AM | Arr. 11:00 AM / 2-hr stay / Dep. 1:00 PM | Arr. 1:30 PM | Arr. 2:00 PM |
The shuttle stops at Takayu Onsen (in front of Attakayu) only for passengers who wish to board or alight there.
How to book:
- Online (credit card payment) through the association's tourism website, 福島市観光ノート
- In person at the Fukushima City Tourist Information Center, 2nd floor of JR Fukushima Station's west exit (Tel: 024-531-6428; reception hours 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, open year-round)
About Jodo-daira Sky Access
Until now, Jodo-daira — the highlight of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline — has been hard for visitors without a car or a specific tour package to reach, posing a hurdle for tourists, especially independent travelers and visitors from abroad.
"Jodo-daira Sky Access" links Jodo-daira, an area previously underserved by public transportation, directly with the Shinkansen station, creating a seamless travel experience and supporting visitors' trips as a new secondary-transportation service.
Through this service, the association aims to offer a range of plans for sightseeing and hiking, making Fukushima's rich nature easier and more comfortable to enjoy. Centered on Fukushima Station, it hopes visitors will make the most of "Jodo-daira Sky Access" as a gateway to the region's grand natural beauty and hot-spring culture.
