This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
That's Journey " has been airing since April 2025.
The memorable first episode, "The First 1,225 Steps," takes place in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. In this article, we'll introduce how to get to Aizuwakamatsu City, touching on the locations depicted in the story.
What is "Zatsu Journey - That's Journey"?
The protagonist of "That's Journey" is Chika Suzugamori, a female college student aspiring to be a manga artist who is struggling to get her story accepted by a publisher. After catching a glimpse of a travel program on TV where destinations are decided by rolling dice, she comes up with the idea of going on a trip where she can collect destinations through a survey on social media.
The survey generated a great response, so Chika decided to travel "upwards (north)" based on the results. The specific destination of her first trip was decided to be Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture, based on a flyer she picked out blindfolded at the station. This marks the beginning of a spontaneous journey without any prior research.
#ZatsuTabi will begin airing and streaming on Monday, April 7th! 📺
Suzugamori Chika is a rookie manga artist who is struggling to get her serialization She suddenly feels like going on a trip, so she takes a survey on social media about travel destinations, and gets an unexpected response!
— "That's Journey" TV anime official @Now streaming on various streaming sites! (@zatsutabi_anime) March 29, 2025
real-life railways frequently appear in the series , and JR East in particular has collaborated with the anime. This is the perfect anime for people like me who love travel, railways, and anime.
The anime is broadcast on AT-X, BS11, TOKYO MX, Yomiuri TV, and other networks, and is also available for streaming on numerous sites. I watch it on BS11 and as a Prime member on Amazon Video.
Aizuwakamatsu City is the central city of the Aizu region in western Fukushima Prefecture, with a population of approximately 110,000, making it the third most populous city in Fukushima Prefecture after Koriyama City, Iwaki City, and Fukushima City.
It is located several dozen kilometers away from the Tohoku region's major arteries, such as the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Tohoku Expressway. However, it accessible from a variety of areas .
Tohoku Shinkansen train stops at Tokyo Station
In the anime, she is shown boarding JR East's Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station (as seen in an image posted by Chika on social media) and getting off at Koriyama Station (however, the original manga depicts the boarding station differently, and is thought to be Omiya Station in Saitama Prefecture).
The name of the train appears to be written as "Yamabiko 207."
According to the timetable as of March 2025, Yamabiko 207 will depart Tokyo Station at 10:11, arrive at Koriyama Station at 11:48, and stop at every station on the way to Fukushima Station. After departing Fukushima Station at 12:05, the next train will arrive at its final destination, Sendai Station, at 12:26.
Please note that the Hayabusa, which is the type of Tohoku Shinkansen that stops at the fewest stations, does not stop at Koriyama Station.
Therefore, to get off at Koriyamayou will need to use (or the Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa," which runs coupled with it) ." Some "Yamabiko" trains do not stop at Koriyama Station, and some "Nasuno" trains do not go all the way to Koriyama Station, so you need to be careful if you are using unreserved seats (the "Hayabusa" does not have unreserved seats, but it basically uses the same carriages as the "Yamabiko," so be careful not to get on the wrong one).
The Yamabiko runs as far as Morioka Station, so you can get to Koriyama Station from stations in the Tohoku region such as Morioka, Sendai, and Fukushima on a single train. Also, if you're traveling from Shin-Aomori Station or Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokkaido, you can get to Koriyama Station with just one transfer by first boarding the Hayabusa and then transferring to the Yamabiko at Sendai Station.
From Yamagata Station and other stations, the Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa" runs directly to Koriyama Station (some trains pass through). From Akita Station and other stations, you can take the Akita Shinkansen "Komachi" and transfer to the "Yamabiko" at Sendai Station. Koriyama is easily accessible not only from the Tokyo metropolitan area, but also from all over the Tohoku region .
By the way, in the story, there is a scene where Chika buys an ekiben, but as of 2025, it is no longer possible to purchase ekiben from on-board sales . This is because on-board sales on the Yamabiko ended in March 2019.
Even on trains like the Hayabusa that have onboard sales, the items on sale are limited to sweets, snacks, and drinks, and ekiben are not available for purchase . If you want to eat an ekiben on the train, you should purchase one before boarding .
The first episode of the manga was released in early 2019, just before the in-train sales were discontinued, so the depiction is not inconsistent with reality at the time. Also, neither the manga nor the anime clearly describes how Chika obtains the bento.
So, if the ticket was purchased while the train was stopped at a station where it only stopped for a few minutes, it would still be possible as of 2025 (although the depiction seems to suggest that it was purchased from an on-board sales service).
How to board the Tohoku Shinkansen?
To use the Shinkansen, you generally need a regular ticket and a limited express ticket. Regular tickets and limited express tickets can be purchased at the JR ticket counters at stations or from reserved seat ticket machinesReservations can also be made through the internet service "Eki-net .
To secure your own ticket, you can only purchase the express train ticket for the section you will be taking the Shinkansen (to Koriyama Station), but please note that you will need to purchase the ticket to your destination, Aizuwakamatsu Station.
Tickets can also be purchased at travel agencies . Also, since many people visit Aizuwakamatsu City for sightseeing, there are many tours that include train and hotel packages.
Although Chika does not secure accommodation, she travels without securing accommodation, it is recommended that you book a place to stay before heading out as it will give you a sense of security when traveling .
Banetsu Nishi Line connecting Koriyama, Aizu and Niigata
Trains running on the Banetsu West Line
The Ban'etsu West Line train that Chika transferred to at Koriyama Station was the 12:15pm rapid train bound for Aizuwakamatsu. It only stopped at five stations along the way, including Bandai-Atami Station. It passed through a total of nine stations before arriving at Aizuwakamatsu Station at 1:20pm.
Akabee is located at Aizuwakamatsu Station
When you arrive at Aizuwakamatsu Station, Akabee will be waiting for you.
As Chikamo mentioned, there is only about one train per hour on the Ban'etsu West Line (although from my own travel experiences, I think even one train per hour is a lot...).
We recommend that you choose a Tohoku Shinkansen train based on the train times of the Ban'etsu West Line, which you can find in timetables or transfer search apps .
The Ban'etsu West Line is a JR East line that runs from Koriyama Station to Niitsu Station in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, via Aizu-Wakamatsu Station. It handles transportation within Fukushima Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture, as well as tourist transportation connecting the Aizu region with other regions (this is exactly what Chika rode on).
Popular tourist trains include the "Aizu Satono" that runs between Koriyama Station and Kitakata Station, and the "SL Banetsu Monogatari" that runs between Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and Niitsu Station.
We will also introduce ways to access Aizuwakamatsu City other than the Tohoku Shinkansen and Banetsu Nishi Line.
railway
Trains running along the Tadami Line
Aizuwakamatsu Station is served by the Ban'etsu West Line as well as JR East's Tadami Line.
The Tadami Line runs from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Koide Station in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. The number of trains is even less than on the Ban'etsu West Line, with only seven round trips per day between Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and Aizubange Station (only the number of trains that run daily), and only three round trips per day that run the entire distance to Koide Station.
However, is so spectacular that it has been called "Japan's most scenic local line."
Aizu-Wakamatsu Station is also served by the Aizu Line, operated by the Aizu Railway Company. Aizu Line trains run from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to Aizu-Tajima Station in Minamiaizu Town and Aizu-Kogen-Ozeguchi Station (the official starting point of the Aizu Line is Nishi-Wakamatsu Station).
As the tracks of other railway companies continue beyond Aizu-Kogen-Ozeguchi Station, there are also direct trains that run between the Aizu Line and other companies' lines. These include the "AIZU Mount ExpressLiberty Aizu a limited express train that runs from Asakusa Station in Tokyo to Aizu-Tajima Station .
Although it takes longer than the route via the Tohoku Shinkansen, taking the Aizu Line route is another way to enjoy your trip.
Express bus
There are also several highway bus routes that stop in front of Aizuwakamatsu Station. Express buses to Aizuwakamatsu depart from Koriyama, Iwaki, Fukushima, Nozawa (Nishiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture), Niigata, Sendai, Shinjuku (Tokyo), and other locations.
also possible to access the area by express bus from within Fukushima Prefecture, neighboring prefectures, and the Tokyo metropolitan area . The bus from Shinjuku is a long journey of about four and a half hours one way, but overnight buses that allow you to sleep while traveling only operate on certain days, such as during Golden Week.
In addition, an airport bus connecting Sendai Airport and Aizuwakamatsu City used to operate, but has been suspended since 2020.
Private car etc.
If you are driving your own car or a rental car, you can access Aizuwakamatsu City via expressways and various national highways. The Ban'etsu Expressway , and National Route 49 cross the city from east to west. In addition, National Route 121, which connects Yonezawa City in Yamagata Prefecture and Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture, runs north-south through the city.
National Route 252, which starts in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, ends in Aizuwakamatsu City, so you won't have any trouble accessing the area by road from various locations.
Town tour pass that can be used to tour tourist spots in Aizuwakamatsu
If you come to a regional city for sightseeing, you may be worried about transportation.
there is a circular bus called the "Machinaka Shuyu Bus" that runs approximately every 30 minutes and takes you around major spots such as Tsuruga Castle .
The left-hand bus is named "High-Colored-San" and the right-hand bus is named "Akabee." Chika travels by foot (even though she's an indoor person, she's still 18 years old), but there is a scene where she passes by High-Colored-San.
Machinaka tour bus "Hikara-san"
Mount Iimori and Higashiyama Onsen, which Chika visits in the story, can also be reached by bus , making it easy to go on a pilgrimage to the locations that appeared in the anime .
The entrance to Hagurosan Yugami Shrine, the final shrine visited in the story, is located in Higashiyama Onsen. If you want to complete your pilgrimage, you'll need to brave the climb up the 1,225 steps.
Haguroyama Yugami Shrine
Please note that this article is merely an introduction to transportation, so please visit the official website for information on the spots that appear in the story.
Digital stamp rally is being held until June 30th, 2025
Aizuwakamatsu Station exterior
A digital stamp rally (a stamp rally run on a smartphone app) called "Stage Tour Station Tag Stamp Rally", a collaboration between "Zatsu Tabi - That's Journey-" and JR East, is currently being held from March 23rd to June 30th, 2025 .
As you collect stamps, you can earn commemorative digital stamps of characters that appear in Zatsu Tabi. If you're interested in traveling to the Tohoku region, why not try the stamp rally?
in conclusion
Traveling inevitably costs money, but as depicted in the story, traveling by train is not that difficult .
I would be happy if this article makes you want to travel and visit Aizuwakamatsu, even just a little.
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