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Situated in the center of the Aizu basin, Aizu Wakamatsu has a population of 120,000. Historically, this city was a castle town governed by a wealthy clan. The area marked its place when the Byakko-tai, a courageous troop of 16 and 17 year-old boys, killed themselves during the Boshin Civil War (1868 - 1869). Bullet holes left by the battles can be seen today on the castle's stone walls. In the midst of such rich history, University of Aizu, a modern institution specializing in computer science and engineering, has been established in 1992. Students roughly the age of the Byakko-tai troop members study the latest technology of computers and engineering in a massive campus surrounded by trees and greenery. In October of 1997, the Ban-etsu Jidosha-do expressway has eased travel to Niigata. With the expansion and improvement of highways, campers and skiers can now fully enjoy the wonders of Mt. Bandai-san and Lake Inawashiro-ko.
Photographs courtesy: Aizu Wakamatsu Association of Tourism
