Hotel Listel Inawashiro, a hot-spring resort nestled in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, is rolling out a series of spring experiences timed to the large-scale tourism campaign "Fukushima Destination Campaign (Fukushima DC)" — themed "Shiawase no Kaze Fukushima" (The Wind of Happiness, Fukushima) — which kicks off in April.
1. Cherry Blossom Walk along Kannon-ji River
Just a 10-minute walk from the hotel, the Kannon-ji River is one of Fukushima's most beloved scenic spots. Roughly 1 km of cherry trees line the small stream fed by snowmelt, forming a tunnel of Somei Yoshino and weeping cherry blossoms. Visitors can enjoy a picnic beneath the blossoms using a colorful bento box available for purchase at the hotel.
A colorful cherry blossom bento box is available for ¥2,800 (tax included, reservation required by noon the day before).
2. Night Cherry Blossom Illumination in Seven Colors
After dusk, the cherry trees along Kannon-ji River are lit up in a seven-color light display, creating a magical atmosphere. Festival stalls sell warm drinks and the local specialty of grilled dango. The path is lined with special paper lanterns, and the hotel lends out cherry-pink paper lanterns for guests to carry as they stroll.
The Kannon-ji River Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled from Saturday, April 18 to Wednesday, April 29 (public holiday). The night illumination runs on the same dates.
3. Aizu Local Sake Tasting
After the evening stroll under the blossoms, guests can head to "Shosuke," the hotel's izakaya, for a comparative tasting of Fukushima's locally brewed sake. The menu also features Aizu regional dishes, Kitakata ramen, and sauce katsudon.
4. Inawashiro Herb Garden Spring Installation
Adjacent to the hotel, the Inawashiro Herb Garden greenhouse is decorated with elaborate spring installations packed with photo spots. This year, colorful capsule balls have been added to the décor. Early spring bloomers such as bougainvillea, manuka, and jasmine are also in season inside the greenhouse.
Outside in the garden, rapeseed flowers are beginning to bloom, and the bougainvillea beds — said to be the largest in Tohoku — are a striking sight.
The Inawashiro Herb Garden (greenhouse and garden) opens for the spring season on Saturday, April 11.
5. Cycling to "Shirazu no Sakura"
About a 5-minute cycle ride from the hotel, "Shirazu no Sakura" is a cluster of massive weeping cherry trees set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Mt. Bandai. The hotel provides electric bicycle rentals for exploring the surrounding area.
6. Spring Dinner Buffet with Strawberry Sweets
The dinner buffet, themed "A Culinary Tour of the Six Tohoku Prefectures," features a wide selection of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes alongside a variety of seasonal strawberry desserts. Freshly fried tempura and freshly carved roast beef are prepared to order.
The strawberry dessert lineup includes ichigo zenzai (strawberry sweet bean soup), ichigo daifuku (strawberry rice cake), verrine, mille-crêpe, opéra cake, brownie, strawberry jubilee, and strawberry sesame dango — a full spread of Japanese, Western, and Chinese strawberry sweets.
Hotel Listel Inawashiro is situated within a vast park equivalent in area to 15 Tokyo Domes and is open year-round in any weather. Facilities include the Inawashiro Herb Garden, tree adventure activities, a ski area (Listel Ski Fantasia), an RV park, and tennis courts. All guest rooms are 37 m² or larger with views of Lake Inawashiro, and the resort features Inawashiro Onsen open-air baths, multiple pools, jacuzzis, saunas, restaurants, an izakaya, a lounge, karaoke, and local crafts experiences.
Access
- By train: Free shuttle bus from JR Banetsu West Line Inawashiro Station, approximately 15 minutes
- By car: Approximately 10 minutes from Inawashiro-Bandaikogen IC on the Ban-etsu Expressway
Official website: https://www.listel-inawashiro.jp/
Spring landing page: https://www.listel-inawashiro.jp/spring
For more information about the Fukushima Destination Campaign "Shiawase no Kaze Fukushima," visit the Fukushima Prefecture Destination Campaign Executive Committee website at https://www.fukushima-dc-cp.jp/.
For Kannon-ji River Cherry Blossom Festival details, visit the Inawashiro Tourism Association at https://www.bandaisan.or.jp/.
