Ashinomaki Onsen Station

Ashinomaki Onsen Station is a small railway station on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The station serves as the gateway to Ashinomaki Onsen, a traditional hot spring village with a history spanning over 1,200 years. According to local legend, the hot springs were discovered during the Heian period when a Buddhist monk noticed injured animals healing themselves in the thermal waters. The area developed as a resort destination during the Edo period, attracting samurai and travelers along the historic routes of the Aizu region.

The station itself opened in 1987 when the Aizu Railway took over operations from Japanese National Railways. It features a modest wooden structure that reflects the rural character of the surrounding hot spring village. The platform offers views of the nearby mountains and the Agano River, which flows through the valley. The station area remains largely undeveloped, preserving the quiet, therapeutic atmosphere that has drawn visitors to Ashinomaki Onsen for centuries.

Visitors arriving at Ashinomaki Onsen Station can walk to several traditional ryokan inns within 5 to 15 minutes, most of which offer day-use bathing facilities for non-guests. The local hot springs are alkaline in composition and are believed to be beneficial for skin conditions and general relaxation. The village has approximately 15 to 20 accommodation facilities, ranging from historic inns to smaller family-run establishments. Many ryokan retain traditional architectural features and offer kaiseki meals featuring local Aizu cuisine.

The station is located approximately 20 kilometers from central Aizuwakamatsu. Trains on the Aizu Railway line run between Nishi-Wakamatsu Station and Aizu-Tajima Station, with the journey from Aizuwakamatsu taking roughly 30 to 40 minutes. A one-way ticket costs around 600 to 800 yen depending on the departure point. The railway line operates with limited frequency, typically offering one to two trains per hour, so advance planning is recommended.