Iwaki

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'.

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.

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.