Fukushima, Fukushima

Fukushima (福島市, Fukushima-shi^?, [ɸu͍̥ku͍ꜜɕima]) is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064^[1] and an area of 746.43 km².

It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.

History

Fukushima was once called "Shinobu-no-sato," the village of Shinobu. In the 12th century Suginome Taro built Suginome Castle and the village began to develop as a castle town surrounding Fukushima Castle. During the Edo period, Fukushima began to grow prosperous from the production of silk and its name became well-known even in Kyoto. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868 a prefectural office was established in Fukushima and the Bank of Japan established an office in the city. This was the first national bank in the Tōhoku Region.^[3] The city was founded on April 1, 1907. On July 1, 2008, the town of Iino, from Date District, was annexed by the city of Fukushima.

2011 earthquake and tsunami

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused ruptures in multiple water mains originating from the city's water supply, the Surikamigawa Dam, resulting in the majority of the city losing access to running water.^[4] Train service was also stopped due to damage caused to railway infrastructure.^[5]

Fukushima City is about 63 kilometres (39 miles) north-west of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, the site of the nuclear accident that followed the tsunami. Although outside the nuclear accident exclusion zone, the levels of radiation in the city caused residents to remain indoors more, reducing economic activity.^[5]

In June 2011 city authorities stated that from September radiation dosimeters would be given to 34,000 children to assess cumulative radiation exposure.^[6]

Transportation

Rail

Fukushima Station is the primary transportation hub of the city.

JR East provides local and regional rail service via the Tōhoku Main Line and the Ōu Main Line and high-speed rail service via the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Yamagata Shinkansen.

Fukushima Transportation runs the Iizaka Line commuter train, connecting the center of the city to Iizaka in the north of the city.

AbukumaExpress operates the Abukuma Express Line, which takes a route following the Abukuma River and connects the city to Miyagi Prefecture in the north.

Buses

Local

Local bus services throughout the city and region are primarily operated by Fukushima Transportation. Local bus service to the Kawamata area is offered by both JR Bus Tōhoku and Kanehachi Taxi.

Intercity

Intercity buses are operated by a multitude of companies and link Fukushima to the cities of Iwaki, Aizuwakamatsu, Kōriyama within the prefectures and to the Sendai, Tokyo, Kinki areas outside the prefecture, among others.

Roads

Expressway

The Tōhoku Expressway passes through Fukushima and has multiple interchanges within the city.

National highways

There are six national highways that run from or through Fukushima.

• Japan National Route 4 runs to Tokyo in the south, through Fukushima, then north to Sendai and beyond.
• Japan National Route 13 begins in Fukushima, runs through Yamagata Prefecture, then terminates in Akita Prefecture.
• Japan National Route 114 starts in Fukushima and runs southeast to the town of Namie.
• Japan National Route 115 runs through Fukushima, connecting Sōma in the east to Inwashiro in the west.
• Japan National Route 399 starts southeast of Fukushima in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima, continues northwest through Fukushima, and terminates in the city of Nan'yō, Yamagata.
• Japan National Route 459 begins in Niigata, Niigata, runs eastward through Kitakata, through Fukushima, southward to Nihonmatsu, then eastward to Namie.

Scenic toll road

The Bandai-Azuma Skyline runs up and along Mt. Azuma on the western edge of the city, connecting Takayu Onsen and Tsuchiyu Onsen.

Airports

Fukushima is served by both Fukushima Airport in Sukagawa and Sendai Airport in Natori, Miyagi.

However, despite Fukushima airport being in the same prefecture as Fukushima City, both airports are approximately the same distance from the city via road (approximately 70 km). Furthermore, as Sendai Airport is both more accessible via train and has more flights to more varied locations than Fukushima Airport, it's more common for Fukushima City residents to utilize the Sendai Airport.

Gallery

Notes

References

• Takeda, Toru; Hishinuma, Tomio; Kamieda, Kinuyo; Dale, Leigh; Oguma, Chiyoichi (August 10, 1988), Hello! Fukushima - International Exchange Guide Book (1988 ed.), Fukushima City: Fukushima Mimpo Press 

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fukushima,_Fukushima Fukushima, Fukushima] at Wikimedia Commons

• Fukushima official website (Japanese)
• Fukushima City Kanko-Bussan(Tourist) Association Official Page