Fukushima

About Fukushima

Fukushima Prefecture area 13,782.81 sq km third largest after Hokkaido Iwate population 1,697,936 July 1 2026 about 1.7 million density 123 21st nationally. Capital Fukushima City 266k core city alongside Koriyama 310k Iwaki 310k three core cities most outside three metros. Iwaki Tohoku largest industrial city Koriyama second populous in Tohoku after Sendai. Geography lies at Tohoku south 133 km north-south 166 km east-west bordering six prefectures Miyagi Yamagata Ibaraki Tochigi Gunma Niigata more than any Tohoku prefecture. Ou Mountains Abukuma Highlands divide three zones: Aizu Japan Sea inland Echigo Ou between 39.3% area 13.5% pop Wakamatsu, Nakadori Pacific inland Ou Abukuma 39.1% area 62.2% pop Fukushima Koriyama Shirakawa, Hamadori Pacific coast Abukuma sea 21.5% area 24.4% pop Soma Iwaki varied snow. Mountains Azuma Adatara Bandai Iide lakes Inawashiro Goshikinuma. History southern Mutsu Province. Edo Aizu-Matsudaira 230k koku shimpan great domain others under 100k. After haihan-chiken 1871 split 11 pieces 1876 Aug 21 three predecessors Wakamatsu Aizu Fukushima Nakadori Iwamae Hamadori merged present Fukushima Prefecture named after town Fukushima capital from Fukushima Castle. 1899 Bank of Japan seventh branch Tohoku first Fukushima industrial growth. Climate differs: Aizu most snow 300-400 cm Wakamatsu over half special heavy snow zone, Nakadori some heavy snow north Fukushima Basin basin continental very hot summers up to 40.0C Date City Aug 2023 winter icing, Hamadori Iwaki Onahama warmest Tohoku Jan mean 4.1C warmer than Saitama light snow under 10 cm. Annual mean 13.4C Fukushima 12.4C Koriyama. Industry fruit kingdom peaches top share pear grape apple rice sake Aizu Nakadori tobacco leaf dairy highlands. Agano River basin hydropower dams Japan premier power region. Forestry cedar lacquer. Manufacturing Iwaki Joban coalfield chemical materials Koriyama commercial hub. Craft Aizu-nuri Hongō pottery. Tourism Tsurugajo Castle Aizuwakamatsu white walls red roof 1384 Uesugi, Ouchi-juku post town preserved thatched Edo with soba dipping onion, Bandai-Asahi, Oze, Nikko national parks Bandai Kogen Goshikinuma volcanic lakes Inawashiro Inkyo resort Aizu samurai history Ouchijuku fork mazes? Iizaka Higashiyama Ashinomaki hot springs Asaka wilderness Hanamiyama park views Fukushima Basin dish Mori? Miharu Takizakura 1,000-yr weeping cherry one Japan three great cherry trees Abukuma Cave limestone Aquamarine Park coast. Despite 2011 earthquake nuclear incident difficult-to-return zones Hamadori reconstruction progress decontamination renewable energy solar. Fruit picking in Fukushima Basin, sake breweries in Aizu, and coastal seafood from Soma and Iwaki also draw visitors. The Azuma Skyline driving route, Ouchi-juku fire festivals and Hanamiyama spring flower hills remain popular photo spots while reconstruction creates renewable energy research hubs.