Japan: Shiokawa The most memorable place during our Japan visit! Not because of temples or great sceneries, but because of all the friendly people who made our stay to last 5 nights instead of the intended 2. We doubt that many tourists or backpackers find their way to Shiokawa, but thanks to our youth hostel guide and Lonely Planet Guide we spotted this small town on the map between Kitakata and Aizu Wakamatsu, both places we wanted to visit.

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The youth hostel in Shiokawa - and its gold fish pond. Can you find the YHA triangle sign?
The room downstairs that we got for a couple of nights.
A friendly welcome. At the sake shop owned by the youth hostel host Yamaguchi San.
The first night in Shiokawa we got a lot of good advice on what to see and do in the surroundings... and of course a couple of glasses of sake.
The surroundings
Shiokawa is located in the middle of rice fields that are surrounded by mountains.
Flowers in a rice paddy.
On our way to Aizu Wakamatsu we cycled past sceneries like this.
Another rice paddy.
The Shiokawa Festival

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