Ouchijuku in the Snow

Ouchijuku is a former junction town located on the Shimotsuke Kaido road, traditional road which had connected Aizu-wakamatsu with Nikko during the Edo period. In Ouchijuku, 48 houses with thatched roofs line the road, and the townscape is reminiscent of the Edo period.

I wanted to take a picture of the main street that was beautifully covered with snow. With the help of a local guide, we tried to visit the hilltop shrine, which is located at the end of the main street up a steep set of stairs.

However, the way to the shrine was completely blanketed with snow. Plowing ahead through the drifts, our guide showed us the way. We followed his steps, but it was extremely difficult for me to walk in the deep snow.

In fact, I fell down twice on the way and sunk into the snow. It was a struggle to stand up as there was nothing to grip. It was really an embarrassing situation.

Without the guide's help, we could not have taken our panoramic photograph of the snow-covered street and we deeply appreciated his kind guidance.

That evening, we visited a family inn operated by Mrs. Asanuma, an Ouchijuku resident who serves local cuisine to her guests. The dinner served us featured local specialties, including mountain trout, which had been grilled over the open hearth (Irori fireplace), and dishes made by several kinds of wild vegetables, sliced meats and so on. The homemade Miso soup and cooked rice were also amazing. Mrs. Asanuma who was very friendly and talkative is a well-known matron in her district. She told us a lot about the town and her lifestyle.