Iwaki

Iwaki (いわき市) is a city in Fukushima. It is a regional city surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is nicknamed "Sunshine Iwaki" due to its high number of hours of bright sunshine compared to other areas of Japan, and it is said to be one of the most temperate cities in the country.

Understand

Spa Resort Hawaiians

Iwaki has a population of 345,000. It’s Japan’s 10th largest and 72nd most populous city.

Iwaki was formed in 1966 by incorporating many smaller towns, including Taira (the central area with the main train station), Uchigō, Yumoto, Izumi, Onahama (the port town), Ueda and many other smaller areas. They were amalgamated a few decades ago in order to boost its status due to a receding population. The name Iwaki had been used for a long time to refer to the general area however it had many different Kanji depictions, so to remove any confusion the name Iwaki is officially written in the hiragana syllabary (いわき).

Formerly, coal mining formed the core of its economy, but in the face of advancing technology, turned to tourism, the Spa Resort Hawaiians being one of its biggest attractions.

The main foundation of economy is industry and agriculture. The industrial production of Iwaki City is no.1 in Tōhoku region. Iwaki is rich in sightseeing resources and 7.64 million tourists visit a year. Within Fukushima prefecture, the industrial and sightseeing center is Iwaki, while the political center is Fukushima city.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

By train

Iwaki is on the JR Joban Line from Tokyo, between Mito and Sendai.

By road

Iwaki is at the junction of the Joban (Tokyo-Sendai) and Ban'etsu (Iwaki-Niigata) Expressways. Highway buses travel to Sendai and Tokyo for around ¥3000-4000.

See

• 1 Shiramizu Amidado Temple (白水阿弥陀堂) (7 km SW of Iwaki center). Shiramizu Amidado is the oldest building in existence in the Iwaki region and was Designated a national treasure in 1952. It was built on the orders of Tokuhime the widow of Norimichi Iwaki, a feudal lord of the Iwaki area in 1160 at the end of the Heian Period. Surrounding the temple is a beautiful Japanese garden where visitors can relax and enjoy the peaceful temple grounds. 
• 2 Aquamarine Fukushima (アクアマリンふくしま). 09:00-17:00. This aquarium focuses on the ocean off the coast of Fukushima, specifically the meeting of the warm Kuroshio Current from the south and the cold Oyashio Current from the north. Other highlights include the touching pool, walk-through glass tunnel as well as tropical botanical gardens and marine mammals. ¥1,600. 
• 3 Misaki Park (三崎公園). Located on the eastern side of Onahama Bay lies a headland that rises 46 m above sea level and is home to Misaki Park. The park's main features are the Shiomidai Lookout and the Marine Tower, which features an observation deck approximately 60 m high providing a bird's-eye view of the surrounding coastline. 
• 4 Shioyazaki Lighthouse (塩屋崎灯台). The Shioyazaki Lighthouse, a famous symbol of Iwaki City, stands tall on a cliff top overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The beacon stands 80 m above sea level and its beam reaches a distance of 40 km out to sea. This lighthouse has guided ships to safety since 1890. In front of the lighthouse are two stones, one of which appears to be playing the same song over and over again. This stone is a memorial to the undisputed queen of Japanese pop Hibari Misora. The Shioyazaki Lighthouse was featured in one of her famous songs.  
• 5 Iwaki City Coal and Fossil Museum (いわき市石炭化石館 ほるる). This museum provides a comprehensive overlook at the history and development of the Joban coalmine. Displays include a replica of the living conditions of the miners as well many interesting fossils found from within the city. One of the featured displays is a dinosaur fossil known as the Futaba Suzuki Ryu, a kind of plesiosaurus, which was discovered in the Futaba strata group, a layer that formed in the seashore 80 million years ago. This fossil was named after the strata group and the discoverer. 
• 6 Nakoso Barrier (勿来の関). According to ancient records, this was the sight of the Kikuta barrier gate. The name 'Nakoso' means 'do not enter' and the barrier gave the impression to the Michinoku (the people of the north), that they were not welcome. Ancient Japanese people had a tendency of being afraid of the unknown in northern Japan. This image of divided people, lovers and even seasons made the Nakoso-Barrier popular among poets as an 'uta-makura', or a place which inspires poetry works. Many literary works describing the Nakoso-Barrier and portraits of the poets and writers are on display in this museum. The exhibitions present the history of the Nakoso-Barrier and show the customs of ancient travellers'. 
• 7 Iwaki City Museum of Folklore and Traditional Housing (いわき市役所 暮らしの伝承郷), 4-16 Sanya, Shimoyada, Kashima-machi, ☏ +81 246-29-2230. Apr-Sep: W-M 09:00-17:00, Oct-Mar: W-M 09:30-16:30. Reproduced traditional houses, household goods and villages from the late Edo to the early Meiji period are on display. Experience first hand old style Japan at this village. Adults ¥210, children ¥100. (updated Apr 2015)
• 8 Iwaki City Sea Dinosaur Centre (いわき市海竜の里センター), 9 Shibazaki, Ohisa, Ohisa-machi. 09:00-17:00. A mini theme park. Futabasaurus suzukii is a Late Cretaceous long-necked plesiosaur discovered by a high school student Tadashi Suzuki at a riverside outcrop of the Ohisa River in Itakizawa, Ohisa Town, in 1968. This is so far the only known specimen of this species, and (as it was later found out) it had been bitten by sharks. The fossil and a reconstructed skeleton is on display in the National Science Museum in Tokyo. The Sea Dinosaur Centre built at the site of the original found is a mini theme park with outdoor attractions (slides, a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, dinosaur models) and an indoor playground. Adults ¥200, children ¥100. (updated Apr 2015)
• 9 Iwaki City Ammonite Centre (アンモナイトセンター), Tsurubo-147-2 Ohisamachi Ohisa, ☏ +81 246-82-4561. 09:00-17:00. The Ammonite center was built directly at a giant ammonite fossil excavation site. On weekends (excluding the third Sunday of each month) 10:00-11:30 and 13:30-15:00 the visitors can take part in ecavations just outside of the ammonite center. The field work may be cancelled due to bad weather. Adults ¥250, children ¥100. (updated Apr 2015)

Do

• 1 Spa Resort Hawaiians (スパリゾートハワイアンズ). This amusement complex is a huge indoor and outdoor hot spring resort featuring a large waterpark, waterslides and the world's largest outdoor hot spring. There are also hula and Polynesian dance performances as well as souvenir and specialty shops. Free shuttle bus from Yumoto Station. ¥3150/2000 adult/child (discounts for late entry). 

Buy

Iwaki Tengu - a guardian angel who protects people from misfortune

Iwaki Tono-washi - traditional Japanese paper

Tono, which is close to the mountain region, has been well known as a place for producing Japanese paper to this day. This Japanese paper is made from mulberry and paperbush, is very sturdy.

Eat

• 1 Sasuichi (さすいち). 11:00-21:00 (last order 20:00). This place is famous for bowls of seafood, but strangely they also serve curry, meat and noodles. ¥2000. (updated Sep 2015)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Frontier Iwaki (ホテルフロンティアいわき). A hotel that has an onsen, offers yoga, and has an e-Sports computer area. (updated Oct 2021)

Go next

• Hirono
• Naraha
• Tomioka
• Kawauchi
• Ono
• Tamura
• Furudono
• Samegawa
• Kitaibaraki

Routes through Iwaki

Niigata ← Koriyama ←	W  E	→ END
Sendai ← Soma ←	N  S	→ Takahagi → Hitachi → Tokai → Mito