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Bandai-Azuma Skyline
Pro Spot
Nature
Fukushima, Tohoku

Bandai-Azuma Skyline

The Bandai-Azuma Skyline is a 29-kilometre mountain road crossing the Azuma volcanic range at over 1,600 metres, connecting Fukushima city with the Bandai plateau. The drive passes through landscapes that shift dramatically with the seasons: in early spring, walls of snow several metres high line the freshly opened road; in summer, volcanic vents at Jododaira emit sulphurous steam beside hiking trails; and in autumn, the entire mountainside erupts in one of Tohoku's finest displays of red and gold foliage. The road is closed in winter, making the spring opening — typically in late April — one of the most anticipated events of the Fukushima outdoor calendar.

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Local Tips

Road closures can happen at short notice, so check official Fukushima Prefecture road information before visiting. If you stop at Jododaira, parking requires an environmental maintenance fee.

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