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City in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Photo: baku13, CC BY-SA 2.1 jp via Wikimedia Commons
Shirakawa (白河) is the southernmost city in Nakadori area of Fukushima prefecture, with a population of approximately 60,000 people.
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小峰城
A reconstruction of a 17th-century castle.
南湖公園
Claimed to be one of the first officially named parks in Japan, with a traditional garden and teahouse.
白河関 Shirakawa Barrier
Believed to be the site of the ancient barrier between the unconquered north and the capital region of Kanto to the south. The poet Basho is said to have visited here.
英
Various kinds of ramen and gyoza (dumplings) are served here
リールブロス
A variety of Japanese and Western set meals are available with soup and rice at \1100. Add a dessert at +\250.
白河ビアステーション
Sells snacks and large pitchers of beer for about ¥1100. Beer Station has a friendly atmosphere complete with photo-phobic dog Rabuchan. It is only open during summer, from about 5pm, but can vary randomly according to the owner's whim.
Nakamachi 42, Basement of the Shirai Building (中町４２白井ビル地下), is a Jamaican bar with occasional live DJs playing reggae music. The owner's wife is Jamaican, and makes a good range of light meals, including Jerk Chicken and Pepper Shrimp. Red stripe beer is available (¥680), as are a variety of rums (from ¥500). Downstairs opposite the Joyo Bank in by Shirakawa station. Look for the English sign.
The local branch of this business hotel chain, with rooms starting from about ¥4600 for a single. Doubles are available for about ¥6800.
白河ビジネスホテル
Near Shirakawa station, about three minutes walking distance. The management is targeting the hotel as the alternative to Taxis and Daikos due to the abundances of snacks, bars and traditional Japanese restaurants nearby (1 minute from the Beer Station and Cariboo). (Singles about ¥4000, twins about ¥6500). They offer a group discount and free WiFi in all rooms.
Shirakawa is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, which stops at Shinshirakawa station. The journey from Tokyo takes about 90 minutes and costs around ¥6000 one way.
Read in the guideAlthough Shirakawa is not a large city and a circuit of town can be completed in about an hour, it is best explored by car, bus or taxi.
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Sukagawa · Regional · FKS
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