Local Guide
6 recommended spots in Inawashiro and Bandai to enjoy with pets

Surrounded by water and greenery, the Inawashiro and Bandai area in Fukushima Prefecture has many spots where you can share various Experiences with your pet. Especially around Inawashiro Lake and in the Urabandai Plateau, there are many Restaurants where you can bring your pets, and there are also many dog runs. Here are some recommended spots where both people and pets can spend time comfortably.

*Please note that due to the prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus, the hours of operation may change and the cafe may be closed. Please check in advance before visiting.

Canoeing with your dog for a relaxing walk on the lake

Canoes are designed for two people and can accommodate both small and large dogs.
Canoes are designed for two people and can accommodate both small and large dogs.

This sports club offers a variety of outdoor experiences in the Urabandai Plateau. There are many programs that you can participate in with your dog, and the "Lake Hibara Ikari Lagoon Canoe Experience" is popular from April to October. The canoes are highly stable and designed for two people. One medium or large dog and up to two small dogs are allowed. First, you will take a training course on land, and then you will go out on the lake with a dedicated guide, so there is no need to worry even if you have never experienced canoeing before. Your dog will also wear a life jacket, so there is no need to worry about drowning even if he or she dives into the lake.

Canoeing and outdoor lunch courses are popular

Canoeing Experience at Ikari Lagoon in Lake Hibara, where more than 40 islets are densely packed.
Canoeing Experience at Ikari Lagoon in Lake Hibara, where more than 40 islets are densely packed.

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Hibara, the largest lake in the Urabandai Plateau, Ikari Lagoon, also known as "Bandai Matsushima," offers a beautiful view of the complex coves. The most popular half-day course is to explore Ikari Lagoon by canoe with a dedicated guide. Paddling slowly so as not to scare your dog, you will reach an open area on the lake where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Bandai. You can enjoy walking on the lake while admiring the magnificent scenery.
For the course that includes lunch, roast chicken cooked in a Dutch oven will be prepared when you return from the canoe, so you can enjoy an outdoor meal with your dog.

Outdoor Sports Club Bucks
  • Address 1093-955 Hibara-Kengamine, Kitashiobara-mura, Yama-gun, Fukushima (Bucks Hibara-ko Store) MAP
  • Direction Approx. 30 min. by car from JR Inawashiro Station
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Inawashiro Station, get off at "Site Station-mae" and walk 10 minutes.
  • Business hours Morning session 9:00-12:00, Afternoon session 12:30-15:30
  • Closed Open daily (except in strong winds or rain) *Closed from late October to mid-April.
  • Admission fee 1-hour Experience course: from 2,500 yen, half-day course: from 4,500 yen (with lunch: from 5,500 yen), full-day course (with lunch): from 7,500 yen *Insurance fee: 250 yen
    Small dogs 800 yen, medium-sized dogs 1,000 yen, large dogs 1,200 yen *Life jacket for dogs included
  • TEL 0241-32-3039／080-5221-3039
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Age limit Junior high school students and older (Elementary school students may participate if accompanied by an adult. Kindergarten children may accompany with a child seat for 1,000 yen.)
  • Memo Reservations required by phone or through the website. If there is an odd number of participants, they will ride with other participants or a guide.

Refresh yourself at the dog run, which is open free of charge

Dog run for large dogs. Dog runs for small and medium-sized dogs are also available.
Dog run for large dogs. Dog runs for small and medium-sized dogs are also available.

This roadside station is located on the Inawashiro-Shiokawa line, a prefectural road connecting Inawashiro Town and Shiokawa Town, Kitakata City. Located about 5 minutes by car from the Bandai Kawahigashi Interchange on the Ban-Etsu Expressway, it is convenient for taking a break from driving.
A grass dog run is available free of charge on the premises overlooking Mt. There are two sections, one for small and medium-sized dogs and one for large dogs, and you can enter with your dog and let them play off-leash. The dog run is flat and well supervised, so both owners and their dogs can see each other without worry. There is also a foot-washing area outside the dog run.

A wide variety of local products and gourmet foods in the Bandai area

A farmer's market selling fresh local vegetables. Handmade side dishes are also popular.
A farmer's market selling fresh local vegetables. Handmade side dishes are also popular.

The roadside station also has a produce stand that sells fresh local vegetables and fruits, handmade side dishes, local sweets, and more. If you want to relax with your dog, head outdoors to the covered rest area.
At the snack corner, you can enjoy local delicacies such as "buckwheat soft serve ice cream" kneaded with organic buckwheat produced in Bandai Town and rice balls made with "Satoyama no Tsubu," rice produced in Fukushima Prefecture. In the product hall, there is a corner for specialty products from the Aizu and Bandai areas, as well as an antenna store for seafood products from the Tohoku region.

Roadside Station Bandai Tokuichi no Sato Kirari
  • Address 38 Bandai Juodo, Bandai-cho, Yama-gun, Fukushima MAP
  • Direction 15 min. walk from JR Bandai-cho Station
  • Business hours Dog run 8:30-17:00, Product center 8:30-18:30, Fresh farm 9:30-17:30, Snack corner 9:30-17:00
  • Closed Open daily (dog run closed in winter)
  • TEL 0242-74-1091
  • Parking Free of charge

Forest Park with a variety of walking courses and rest spots

There are benches in the park where you can relax with your dog.
There are benches in the park where you can relax with your dog.

The park is located halfway up Bandaisan Mountain, which rises approximately 720 to 850 meters above sea level. In 1970, a tree-planting ceremony was held with the Emperor and Empress Showa in attendance, and the park was later developed into a forest park. The park is surrounded by red pine forests and broadleaf forests, where you and your pet can spend a relaxing time in nature. For a leisurely stroll with your dog, we recommend the 1.1-km "Shunju-no-michi" walking path. The path joins another walking path, "Showa-no-michi," along the way, where you can enjoy seasonal flowers and autumn leaves.

Take a leisurely stroll along the promenade surrounded by flowers and greenery

Lake Inawashiro and Mt. Bandai can be seen from the park.
Lake Inawashiro and Mt. Bandai can be seen from the park.

The "Showa-no-hiroba" in the center of the park is a resting spot with tables and benches scattered across the lawn. Bring your own lunch and enjoy a picnic with your dog. The plaza also has a viewing platform from which you can enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Inawashiro as well as the Minamiaizu and Nasu mountain ranges. In the "rock garden" made of volcanic rocks, alpine plants can be viewed, and every year around mid-May, double-flowered cherry blossoms turn the park pink, creating an ample sense of atmosphere. This is a great place to spend a relaxing time with your dog while getting close to nature.

Showa Forest
  • Address Tenkagamidai, Inawashiro-cho, Yama-gun, Fukushima MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. by car from JR Inawashiro Station
  • Hours of operation 8:30-17:00
  • Closed Open daily (closed in winter from late November to early April)
  • Admission Fee Free of charge
  • TEL 0242-65-2150（Inawashiro Town Promotion Public Corporation Office)
  • Parking Free of charge

A play spot exclusively for dogs

A dog run for medium and large dogs, where even large dogs can run around freely.
A dog run for medium and large dogs, where even large dogs can run around freely.

This dog run and cafe is located on the shores of Tenjin Beach on Lake Inawashiro. Surrounded by greenery, there are dog runs for small dogs and medium and large dogs, which are allowed to play off-leash. Agility equipment, including a balance beam, is also available, allowing visitors to strengthen their bond with their dogs while playing.
There is also a trimming room in the Property, and a paw-washing menu with towel-drying and dryer finishing is available, so there is no need to worry about getting dirty. Shampooing and trimming services are available by advance reservation only, and are available for small to large dogs up to 35 kg.

Relax at a dog café with a menu for dogs

Laputa Bread Set
Laputa Bread Set" 1,100 yen. Thick slices of bread topped with corned beef and a fried egg.

The café attached to the dog run is also a relaxing place where you can spend time with your dog. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash and wearing a manner belt. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes using thick slices of toast, perfect for a light lunch or snack. For dogs, "horse meat hamburger steak" and "coconut banana cake" are available.
The store also has an extensive lineup of dog goods such as collars and leashes. Homemade jerky made from horse meat is also popular.

Bandai Snow Dogs
  • Address 1614-50, Nishihama Kou, Nakamatsu, Inawashiro-cho, Fukushima MAP
  • Direction 10 minutes drive from JR Inawashiro Station
  • Business hours 10:00-17:00, November-March-16:00
  • Closed Tuesdays
  • Admission fee Small dogs (under 50 cm in height): 1,100 yen, large dogs (over 50 cm in height): 1,650 yen
  • TEL 0242-23-8998
  • Parking Free of charge

Enjoy a hamburger with your dog

The most popular
The most popular "HERO Burger Set" 1,408 yen

This burger store, where all patties and buns are handmade, has welcomed pets since its opening in 2007 and is a popular place for dog lovers to socialize. The burgers are available in a wide variety, and their American-sized volume is another reason for their popularity. The signature item on the menu, the "HERO Burger," is a powerful burger with a patty, homemade bacon, two kinds of cheese, and a fried egg in between. The "Aizu Sakura Burger" made with horse meat from Aizu is also popular. For dogs, the "WAN Burger" made with chicken meat is available.

A welcoming atmosphere for pets creates a comfortable atmosphere.

Bright interior with large windows. Dogs can also spend time here.
Bright interior with large windows. Dogs can also spend time here.

From inside the restaurant, you can see Lake Inawashiro behind the rice paddies, and the peaceful atmosphere is also relaxing. The owner and his wife, who are dog lovers, have arranged for pets to be allowed in all areas of the restaurant as well as on the terrace. Large dogs such as Labradors are also welcome.
Burgers can also be taken out if eaten within 30 minutes of purchase. On fine days, we recommend taking a walk in the Showa Forest or Tenjin Beach on Lake Inawashiro, which are within a 10-minute drive, and enjoying a meal outside with your dog.

HERO'S DINER
  • Address 1574 Kamimura-mae, Inawashiro-cho, Yama-gun, Fukushima MAP
  • Direction Approx. 6 min. by car from JR Inawashiro Station
  • Business hours 10:30-17:00 (L.O.16:30), Thursday - 15:00 (L.O.14:30)
  • Regular holiday Friday
  • TEL 0242-72-0530
  • Parking Free of charge

Enjoy lunch with your dog on the terrace with a pleasant highland breeze

Terrace seating for dining with dogs
Terrace seating for dining with dogs

This auberge is located at the entrance to the "Goshikinuma Lakes" in the Urabandai Plateau. The second floor of the European castle-inspired building houses accommodations, while the restaurant on the first floor serves Italian cuisine using organic vegetables and local ingredients. Pets are welcome on the terrace. You can enjoy a meal with your dog while feeling the fresh air of the plateau. The terrace is also covered, so it can be used even on rainy days.

Authentic Italian cuisine using local ingredients

Fukushima beef steak with highland vegetables
Fukushima beef steak with highland vegetables" from the lunch menu: 3,080 yen

The chef trained in Tokyo for about eight years before opening the restaurant in his hometown of Urabandai. He has his own vegetable garden in the back of the Restaurant and is known for the vegetables he grows himself. The lunch set includes a pasta or meat dish, appetizer, bread, and drink for 1,650 yen and up. You can also order a la carte dishes such as handmade fresh pasta and pizza.
There is also a marché inside the restaurant, selling local vegetables, brown rice, and homemade confiture. You are sure to find a delicious souvenir.

Hotel&Ristorante IL REGALO
  • Address 1093 Hibara-Kengamine, Kitashiobara-mura, Yama-gun, Fukushima MAP
  • Direction 22 minutes by car from JR Inawashiro Station
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Inawashiro Station, get off at "Goshikinuma Iriguchi" and walk about 4 minutes.
  • Business hours 11:30 - 14:30, 17:30 - 20:00
  • Closed Tuesdays (open if Tuesday is a national holiday), other irregular holidays
  • TEL 0241-37-1855
  • Parking Free of charge

After enjoying sightseeing, how about relaxing at a resort hotel located at the foot of Mt. You can feel the history and culture of Aizu during your stay at the hotel.

An inn where you can fully enjoy Aizu culture and stay active all year round

Guest rooms based on the concept of
Guest rooms based on the concept of "Aizu Modern

Bandaisan Onsen Hotel by Hoshino Resorts is located in a place where "Bandaisan," one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, towers in front of you and Lake Inawashiro shines like a mirror below. With a heated swimming pool, spa, and hot springs, guests can enjoy a stay that brings them into contact with the unknown culture of Aizu. You can stay active from the season of fresh green to the season of blazing autumn leaves and deep snow. Enjoy a highland resort stay amidst magnificent nature and the changing seasons.

Bandaisan Onsen Hotel by Hoshino Resorts
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.