Discover the charm of Futaba area! Introduction of monitor tours♪ Futaba-gun, Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima
PR

2024/09/12

Add to favorites

Watanabe Family Residence (National Tangible Cultural Property)

Where is Futaba-gun, Fukushima Prefecture?

Futaba-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, blessed with rich nature and a mild climate, consists of eight towns and villages with rich individuality and is located almost in the center of Hamadori facing the Pacific Ocean coast. There are many attractive tourist facilities, scenic spots and gourmet foods such as "Yoru no Mori no Sakura" and "Namie Yakisoba" which became famous nationwide through "B-1 Grand Prix".

▽ Access▽
[From Tokyo]
〈Train〉
JR Ueno Station - JR Iwaki Station About 2 hours 15 minutes (using JR Joban Line [Express])
〈Car〉
Misato IC - Iwaki Chuo IC approx. 2 hr. 30 min. by Joban Expressway
[From Sendai]
〈Train〉
JR Sendai Station - JR Namie Station approx. 2 hrs. by JR Joban Line [Regular Train]
〈Car〉
Sendai Miyagi IC - Namie IC approx. 1 hr. 20 min. by Tohoku Expressway -Sendai-Nanbu Road - Joban Expressway)

Image provided by: Fukushima Power Source Regional Promotion Foundation, Futaba Reconstruction Branch Office

Feel the present day Futaba area, full of vitality and hope!

The Futaba area of Fukushima Prefecture is surrounded by nature and has a peaceful atmosphere. The area is so peaceful and surrounded by nature that it is hard to feel the sadness of past events, and life is almost the same as usual. The people you meet in this area are bright-eyed, lively, and somewhat excited. Many of them live and work in this area, full of hope and expectation for the future. What is the secret?

We have prepared a "monitor tour" that allows you to experience the charm of the Futaba area. Please read to the end and join the tour.

Kawauchi Winery" surrounded by vast nature at an altitude of approximately 750 meters above sea level.

The vineyard spreads out at an altitude of about 750m, overlooking the Abukuma Mountains. The Kawauchi Winery, which began brewing using grapes from Kawauchi Village and other parts of the prefecture, is located on the premises.

The Kawauchi Winery began wine production in June 2021, and although the idle farmland was in a state of disrepair and not ready for grape cultivation until 2015, grape vines were planted in the spring of 2016 with the cooperation of volunteers from the local government and people from inside and outside the village, In the spring of 2016, with the cooperation of the local government and volunteers from inside and outside the village, grapevines were planted and full-scale viticulture began.

The winery building is lined with brewing machines and stainless steel tanks, and approximately 21,000 bottles of white, red, and rosé wines are produced annually.

One of the things we hope to achieve through wine is to produce wine that satisfies many people and to become widely known as "wine from Kawauchi Village," thereby making Kawauchi Village a place where many people are interested in and want to be involved in. Why not find your favorite wine while enjoying the wonderful view of the Abukuma Mountains from the vineyards?

Kawauchi Winery Official HP

Gin blending experience at "naturadistill

The distillery to be opened this fall in the center of Kawauchi Village is called "naturadistill. The name "naturadistill" comes from the combination of the words "nature" and "distillation. The building that was once a "drug store warehouse" has been renovated into a distillery that produces craft gin and other spirits. Visitors can experience making their own original gin by combining various elements such as fruits and herbs from Kawauchi Village and other parts of the prefecture. On the first floor of the building, there will be a distilling apparatus, and on the second floor, original gin will be available for drinking.

The gin is scheduled to be released around November 2024.
*The restaurant bar is scheduled to open around February 2025.

Nexus Farm Okuma, the largest strawberry farm in Tohoku

Nexus Farm Okuma boasts the largest area of strawberry cultivation plant in Tohoku, and can grow approximately 150,000 strawberry plants. The plant has accumulated and analyzed a variety of strawberry-related data to establish an optimal cultivation and production system. A complex environmental control system has been introduced to control the temperature inside the greenhouses and LED lights if there is a lack of sunlight, etc., for around-the-clock management.

The strawberries we often see are called "one season strawberries (winter-spring strawberries)" and are grown and harvested from winter to spring. Nexus Farm Okute has a well-equipped facility that makes it possible to grow "four-season strawberries (summer-autumn strawberries)," which were said to be difficult to grow in this region, and to grow and sell strawberries throughout the year while meeting the demand for cakes and other commercial use.

Strawberries can be sold directly on the premises or purchased through an e-commerce site. In addition to processed products such as semi-dried fruits, craft beer made from strawberry juice is also available for a limited time. There is also an information space about the facility at the entrance of the factory, so please stop by if you are in the neighborhood♪

For more details, check the official website.

Nexus Farm Okuma Official HP

Nexus Farm Okuma Official Instagram

Watabe Family Residence, a registered tangible cultural property

The Watabe Family Residence in Okuma Town was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2020. It is the second example in the town after the Ishida Family Residence in Okawara. The five registered structures are the main house, stable, storehouse, storehouse for unhulled rice, yakuimon (gate), and fence, all built in the Meiji period. The Watabe family made their fortune through horse production while farming in the town of Okuma, and the waterways and cedar forests around the house, as well as the landscape, have survived the earthquake and still serve as important documents of the lifestyle of the time.

One-day Garden Bar at the Watanabe Family Residence♪

For this monitoring tour, we borrowed the Watabe residence and held a one-day garden bar. On the day of the event, dishes using fresh vegetables and fruits grown in Futaba-gun and locally brewed sake will be served.
What do they see, think, and feel in this land? Please make this a good opportunity to reflect on "who you are now" through exchanges with local people.

Examples of past Garden Baru events *This year's event will be held for lunch.

Gourmet tours of Futaba's food and sake experience

You can apply for a tour that stops at the spots introduced in the " the package tour booking site of JR East View Tourism & Sales " section.
Local tour guide will accompany you for your peace of mind.

　Departure Date Saturday, November 9, 2024
Schedule 2 days 1 night
Departure Station Tokyo

*Please refer to the link at the bottom of the page for the tour price and itinerary.
*There are some conditions for participation.
This tour is a "FY2024 Fukushima Specific Nuclear Facilities Regional Promotion Grant Project" by the Fukushima Power Sources Regional Promotion Foundation.
This tour is jointly planned and operated by Oriai Co.

Click here to register!

Co-planning and operation "Oriai Co.

*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*Availability of tours is subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.

Tags related to this article

Previous post Back to list Next