Have to agree it's a wonderful area - and you're right about the fall.  Some of my best fall shots (from our trip 10yrs ago) were from the maples in the Chuson-ji complex at Hiraizumi and our best ryokan experience was at a hot spring in Aizu Wakamatsu (Higashiyama Onsen).  My photography skills have come quite a long way since then and we plan to return one day...

Cheers
Andy

Dear all,

For those of you paying a visit to Japan, and equipped with snow shoes/back country ski, I would like to recommend the truely remarkable area called Ura Bandai in Fukushima prefecture.

Winter might be best, but colors in autumn are breath taking as well.

Best regards,
Bernard