南会津町の中心地会津田島からスタート。下郷町の猿楽台地の蕎麦畑というのが気になり行ってみたが、残念ながらそばの季節ではなかったのでいまいちでした。その後、景勝地である塔のへつりに寄り、桜が満開の湯野上温泉駅に立ち寄りました。湯野上温泉駅は多くのカメラマンでにぎわっていました。重要建造物群保存地区の大内宿を経由し、大内ダムの経由し、会津美里町に入り、左下り観音を見て、向羽黒山城跡を越え、本郷地区を経由して、メインの目的地である岩城の国一の宮伊佐須美神社に参拝をしました。伊佐須美神社付近の宮川沿いは、桜の名所で、満開でした。法用寺観音堂の虎の尾桜は季節が違いましたが、米沢の千歳桜は満開でした。その後、会津若松市内に入り、石部桜を観て、鶴ヶ城の桜（押していけば自転車も入れます）も回り、会津若松駅から戻りました。日中線の桜並木にも行きたかったですが、時間的にちょっと厳しかったですね。走行距離はおよそ90㎞になります。
We started from Aizu-Tajima, the center of Minamiaizu-cho. We were interested in the buckwheat fields of Sarugaku Plateau in Shimogo-cho, so we went there, but unfortunately it was not the season for buckwheat, so it was not a great experience. After that, we stopped by the scenic Tonohetsuri and stopped at Yunokami Onsen Station, where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Yunokami Onsen Station was crowded with many photographers. We passed through Ouchi-juku, an important preservation district for buildings, and Ouchi Dam, entered Aizu-Misato-cho, saw the Hidari-kudari Kannon, passed the remains of Mukaihaguroyama Castle, passed through the Hongo area, and visited Izasumi Shrine, the first shrine in Iwaki Province, which was our main destination. The area along the Miyagawa River near Izasumi Shrine is a famous cherry blossom spot, and was in full bloom. The Torano-o Sakura at Hoyo-ji Kannon Hall was in a different season, but the Chitose Sakura in Yonezawa was in full bloom. After that, I went into Aizuwakamatsu city, saw the Ishibe cherry blossoms, and went around the cherry blossoms at Tsuruga Castle (you can even push your bike in), then returned from Aizuwakamatsu station. I wanted to go to the cherry blossom trees along the Nicchu Line, but it was a bit tight on time. The total distance traveled was about 90km.
会津田島駅から、猿楽大台地まではやや登り。景色がいいのを期待しましたが、そばの花が咲いている時期ではないのでいまいちでした。塔のへつりは、紅葉の名所ですが、新緑の季節も素晴らしいです。朝が早かったので、人も少なく気持ちいい散策でした。湯之上温泉駅は茅葺の駅舎で、桜とローカル線と駅舎がきれいなので、多くのカメラマンでにぎわっておりました。
From Aizu-Tajima Station to Sarugaku Daidaichi, it's a bit of a climb. I was hoping for a nice view, but it wasn't the best as it wasn't the season for buckwheat flowers to bloom. To-no-Hetsuri is famous for its autumn leaves, but it's also beautiful in the season of fresh greenery. It was early in the morning, so there were not many people and it was a pleasant walk. Yunoue Onsen Station has a thatched roof station building, and the cherry blossoms, local train line and station building are beautiful, so it was crowded with many photographers.
大内宿は、重要建造物群保存地区に指定されており、知名度も高いことから観光客はたくさんいます。
Ouchijuku is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Buildings and is well-known, attracting many tourists.
大内ダム方面へ高度を上げて進みます。路肩にはまだ雪がありました。大内ダムを過ぎると下りになります。左下り観音は、懸け造りの建築で、迫力があります。向羽黒山城址を越え、伊佐須美神社に向かいます。
We climbed higher towards Ouchi Dam. There was still snow on the side of the road. After passing Ouchi Dam, the road started to go downhill. The Hidari-kudari Kannon is an impressive structure built using a hanging structure. We passed the ruins of Mukaihaguroyama Castle and headed towards Izasumi Shrine.
伊佐須美神社は、テレビ埼玉でCMを流しているので、埼玉県民にはなじみがあるかもしれません。岩城国一の宮だけあり、かなり立派な神社です。また、神社の前にはあやめ苑があり、桜の木もたくさんあるのでこの時期は非常に華やかです。宮川沿いも桜並木となっており、雪をかぶった会津の山を背景に美しいコントラストをなしておりました。
Izasumi Shrine may be familiar to Saitama residents as it is advertised on TV Saitama. As the first shrine in Iwaki Province, it is a very impressive shrine. There is also an iris garden in front of the shrine, and there are many cherry trees, so it is very colorful at this time of year. The Miyagawa River is lined with cherry trees, creating a beautiful contrast with the snow-capped mountains of Aizu in the background.
法用寺に寄り、虎の尾桜は咲いているか確認しましたが、残念ながらもう少し後の季節のようです。オオシマザクラ系サトザクラで4月下旬から5月上旬が見ごろらしいです。
法用寺の近くにある米沢の千歳桜はエドヒガン桜で、まさに見ごろでした。
I stopped by Hoyo-ji Temple to see if the Torano-o Sakura was in bloom, but unfortunately it seems it's still a little later in the season. It's a Satozakura variety of the Oshimazakura variety, and is said to be at its best from late April to early May.
The Chitose Sakura tree in Yonezawa near Hoyo-ji Temple is a type of Edohigan cherry tree, and was right in full bloom.
会津若松市内に入り、エドヒガンザクラの石部桜を見ました。会津美里町よりは進みが早く、散る間際でした。
We entered Aizuwakamatsu city and saw the Edohigan cherry tree Ishibezakura. It moved faster than Aizu Misato town and the cherry blossoms were about to fall.
鶴ヶ城に寄り、会津若松駅から戻りました。鶴ヶ城も桜の最後の見ごろで多くの人がおりました。
We stopped by Tsuruga Castle and returned from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station. There were many people there, as it was the last time for cherry blossom viewing.
インスタもよろしくお願いします
