Iwaki, Fukushima

The city is located at the southeastern end of Tōhoku region and borders on Ibaraki Prefecture. The city occupies around 8.9 percent of the total area of Fukushima Prefecture. The eastern part of the city is made up of 60 kilometres (37 mi) of coastline which faces the Pacific Ocean and the western part goes through the Abukuma highlands and joins up with the central part of Fukushima Prefecture. The western part is a range of mountains and forests, occupies about 70 percent of the city. The rivers which flow to the east from the mountains have riverbeds with steep inclines which form the deep valleys of the Natsuigawa Gorge and the Shidokigawa Gorge. The flatter eastern part of the city is where most of the population is located. There are seven beaches on the coastline. Off the coast of Iwaki, the warm Kuroshio Current and the cold Oyashio Current meet and make for an abundant fishing ground. The city's flag and seal depict the meeting of these two currents. The prevailing winds from the ocean are warm and wet.

Per Japanese census data,[6] the population of Iwaki remained relatively steady over the past 60 years.

The area of present-day Iwaki was part of ancient Mutsu Province. The forms いわき, 石城, 岩城, 巖城, 巌城, and 磐城 are all ways of writing "Iwaki", which means "rocky castle". Under the Nara period Taika Reform of 645 AD, the central government formed "Iwaki district (磐城郡)" in the northern part of the present city and "Kikuta district (菊多郡)" in the southern part.[7] In 653, the Iwaki district incorporated part of Taga Province and became Iwaki district (岩城評).[7] In 718, Iwaki Province was formed, which was composed of five districts with Mutsu Province: Iwaki (岩城), Shineha, Namekata, Uta, Watari and Kikuta which was given from Hitachi Province. Shineha was the present Naraha. Namekata and Uta were the present Sōma. Watari was the present Watari, Miyagi. The area of the present Iwaki City was composed of Kikuta and Iwaki (岩城 or 磐城).[7] The Yamato government constructed the Nakoso barrier around 708 AD against possible invasion by the Emishi tribes in the north.[8]

In the late 11th century, the Iwaki clan (岩城氏) of Hitachi Province invaded Iwaki district (磐城郡) and divided it into four districts of Yoshima, Iwasaki, Iwaki, Naraha. The clan ruled the area from the Kamakura period to the end of the Sengoku period. In 1600, Iwaki Sadataka opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Battle of Sekigahara and as a result, the Iwaki clan was deposed. Torii Tadamasa was appointed as daimyō of Iwakitaira Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate, with an assessed kokudaka of 100,000 koku and constructed Iwakitaira Castle.[7] The domain covered only a portion of what is now Iwaki city: other parts of the city were under the control of Izumi Domain (1634) and Yunagaya Domain (1670). All three domains joined the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei during the Bakumatsu period in support of the Tokugawa against the Satchō Alliance during the Boshin War, but following the Meiji Restoration, and the 1871 Abolition of the han system The new Meiji government created Iwakitaira Prefecture, Yunagaya Prefecture and Izumi Prefecture, which were incorporated to Iwamae (Iwasaki) Prefecture (磐前県) and to the current Fukushima Prefecture (1876).[7] In 1896, Iwaki Bank and Taira Bank were established.

In 1897, the Japanese Government Railway filled in the inner moat of Iwakidaira Castle and built Taira Station. The Jōban coalfield, the largest coalfield in Honshū and the nearest to the Japanese capital Tokyo, was developed, and the population of Taira increased to support the exploitation of the coalfield. The Jōban Line was made for the haulage of the coal. Iwaki's fishery, forestry and agricultural sectors also developed from this time.[8] After World War II, the Jōban coalfield was closed. The same natural hot springs that were troublesome to the coal miners were put to good use and a hot springs resort was developed Spa Resort Hawaiians.

The present city was incorporated on October 1, 1966, with the merger of 14 municipalities (5 cities, 4 towns and 5 villages). The cities were Taira (平), Uchigō (内郷), Iwaki (磐城), Nakoso (勿来), and Jōban (常磐); the towns, Yotsukura, (四倉) Tōno (遠野), Ogawa (小川) and Hisanohama (久之浜); and the five villages were Yoshima (好間), Miwa (三和), Tabito (田人), Kawamae (川前) and Ōhisa (大久).[7] Taira was chosen as the location for the city hall and other administrative offices and continues to function as the centre of Iwaki. In April 1979, an "Iwaki Number" as an automobile number plate was introduced.

On April 1, 1999, the city was designated a core city with increased autonomy from the prefectural government.

On 11 March 2011, the city was struck by an earthquake and followed by a tsunami. By 20 May 2011, 303 were dead and 82 still missing.[9]

Iwaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 37 members. The city contributes 10 members to the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, Iwaki is part of the Fukushima 5th District (along with Futaba District) for a seat in the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The main foundations of economy are industry and agriculture. In particular, Iwaki is a centre for manufacturing machinery, wood based products and chemicals. The industrial production of Iwaki City is #1 in Tōhoku region. Iwaki is rich in sightseeing resources and 7.64 million tourists visit annually. Within Fukushima prefecture, the industrial and sightseeing center is Iwaki, while the political center is Fukushima city. The Nakoso Thermal Power Station, a large coal-fired thermal power station is located in Iwaki.

Statistics (2006)[12]

• Employed population: 174,048
• Unemployed population: 121,802
• Gross production: ¥1,293,782 billion
• Number of tourists: 7,639,296

Surrounded by the ocean and mountains, Iwaki is more closely connected to Mito in neighboring Ibaraki Prefecture than to the Nakadōri region of Fukushima, including Kōriyama or the prefectural capital of Fukushima). Iwaki is 75 km from Kōriyama, 150 km from Sendai and 95 km from Mito. The Jōban Line runs north and south in the city. The central station is Iwaki Station, which is also a terminus for the East Ban'etsu Line which links Iwaki to Kōriyama].

Railway

Looking south from Iwaki Station

JR East – Jōban Line

• Nakoso - Ueda - Izumi - Yumoto - Uchigō - Iwaki - Kusano - Yotsukura - Hisanohama - Suetsugi

JR East – Ban'etsu East Line

• Iwaki - Akai - Ogawagō - Eda - Kawamae

Fukushima Rinkai Railway Main Line (freight line)

• Izumi - Miyashita Freight Terminal - Onahama Freight Terminal

¤This line carries passenger only on the day of Onahama firework festival

Highway

Iwaki JCT

• Jōban Expressway - Iwaki Nakoso Interchange - Iwaki Yumoto Interchange - Yunotake Parking Area – Iwaki Junction - Iwaki Chūō Interchange - Iwaki Yotsukura Interchange
• Ban-etsu Expressway - Iwaki Junction - Iwaki-Miwa Interchange
• National Route 6
• National Route 49
• National Route 289
• National Route 349
• National Route 399

• Iwaki Onahama Minato Oasis
  • Iwaki Sun Marina
  • Aquamarine Park
    • Aquamarine Fukushima, an aquarium
    • Iwaki La La Miu
    • Iwaki Day Crews
• Iwaki Marine Tower
• "Iwaki seven beaches"
• Shioyazaki lighthouse
  • Monuments of Misora Hibari

The Monument of Misora Hibari

• Setogarō, a scenic ravine, named by Kusano Shimpei
• Iwaki Yumoto Onsen, one of the three old hot springs in Japan
• Spa Resort Hawaiians, hot spring and leisure park.
• Iwaki Coal and Fossils Museum
• Nakoso Barrier, was built against Emishi in Yamato period. "Nakoso" means "Don't come over here".
• Iwaki Ammonites Center
• Shiramizu Amidadō, Buddhist temple. National Treasures of Japan.

Shiramizu Amidadō

• Kurashi no Denshōgō, historical facility
• Iwaki Taira Keirin, cycle racetrack
• Kusano Simpei Memorial Hall

Festivals

Taira Tanabata Festival, one of the most famous festivals for tanabata in Japan

• Jangara
• Iwaki Odori
• Onahama Firework Festival
• Taira Tanabata Festival

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iwaki, Fukushima.

• Iwaki travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Official Website (in Japanese)