Koori Town, home to some 236 acres of peach orchards, is a wonderful place to view peach blossoms when spring rolls around.
24,000 trees fill the 120 hectares of peach orchards located along the banks of the Abukuma in Koori Town's Danzaki area - many of these are located along a road known locally as 'the Peach Line'.
When these flowers all open their petals in unison, the landscape is transformed into a sea of pink, truly a utopian vista. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (the Crown Prince and Princess at the time) walked through this orchard on April 26 1996 - an event which is commemorated with a memorial tablet that stands along the Peach Line.
Visitors to the peach orchards on the banks of the Abukuma river will be treated to views of Mt. Handa, the symbol of Koori Town.
The best time to visit the peach orchards is mid-April.
| Website | https://www.town.koori.fukushima.jp/kankou/index.html(Japanese) |
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| Contact | Koori Town Industrial Development Section (+81) 24-582-2126 sangyoshinko@town.koori.fukushima.jp |
| Best Season |
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| Access | Along the Abukuma River, Koori Town, Fukushima Pref. View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 10 min from Kunimi I.C. exit off the Tohoku Expressway By Train: 40 min walk from Koori Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line |
Mt. Handa (known as 'Handayama' in Japanese), which rises 863 meters above sea level, and Handa Pond are the focal points of this park. Handayama Natural Park is known for its late-blooming cherry trees, as well as the diverse wildflowers that bloom. It is a great place for visitors to feel close to nature throughout the year.
Experience traditional Japanese life & culture at Adachigahara Furusato Village. From exploring samurai residences to learning about the lifestyles of local farmers, there is a lot to see and do in this incredibly scenic open-air museum.
This beautiful cherry blossom tree stands alone in the centre of a field. The small temple next to the tree is dedicated to the Buddhist deity of child safety & childbirth. This scenery is so beautiful - it has even been used in Japanese movie posters. Ozawa Sakura usually reaches full bloom at the end of April.
Located just east of Koriyama City, Takyashiki Inari Shrine is one of Fukushima's most striking shrine complexes. Roughly one hundred red torii gates line rows of stairs leading to the main shrine building, which features both a grey marble torii in the rear and a small koi pond. A family of chickens roost in a nearby hutch and roam free around the grounds during the day. The shrine is distinctive as an inari shrine thanks to its myriad fox statues, each of which represents a messenger of the kami Inari, said to be the watchful protector over rice farmers.The shrine grounds are free to enter and offer pleasant views over the surrounding countryside.
Hanamiyama Park is a privately-owned field for flowering and ornamental trees, in southeast Fukushima City.The park is located within a satoyama-type landscape i.e. managed woodland hill country close to human habitat. What originally began more than 60 years ago with local farmers planting flowers and trees, has grown into a beautiful scene. The landowner generously turned the area into a park in 1959 to allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful flowers there.Hanamiyama Park, and the wider Hanamiyama area, is now visited by thousands of admirers every year!Springtime visits see cherry, plum, and forsythia trees paint everything in vivid colors. A gentle pink and purple landscape waving in the breeze with the picturesque snow-capped Azuma Mountains in the distance makes for an amazing sight.The riot of spring colors is spectacular enough to merit calling this park Fukushima's very own paradise.The flowering landscape moves all who see it and has been preserved through the cooperation of the local residents. Enjoy a leisurely one-hour stroll that will take you from the foot of the hill to the summit. Travel through groves of flowering trees and other vibrant flowers in full bloom.Hanamiyama is the perfect getaway for a day for nature lovers, hikers, or people trying to escape for a short time.The best part is that spring isn’t the only beautiful time to visit. Marvel in wonder during the lush green summer foliage or the dappled colors of autumn. When you visit this fairytale-like wonderland, it is recommended that visitors wear comfortable walking shoes as the terrain includes graveled paths, steep slopes, and slippery areas. Mid- through late April is the peak season, so ready your camera and your heart for the beauty that awaits.
The famous Okukuji Prefectural Nature Park in Ibaraki Prefecture designated Furoyama Park as a top Green Spot of Fukushima. Furoyama Park is famous for its yama-tsutsuji (mountain rhododendron), which come into bloom from late April through to early May. There are around 3,000 rhododendron plants which cover the park in deep shades of red. Climb halfway up the hill to gain a great view of the town.
This arched iron bridge crossing the Abukuma River is famous as a viewing point for the fresh green of early summer and brightly colored autumn leaves. The bridge is 138.5 meters long, with a maximum height of 60 meters from the bottom of the valley, and you can enjoy the refreshing feeling of being totally enveloped in the surrounding scenery as you look down from the bridge.
On an early November evening, visiting Autumn Sports Park is like stepping onto a movie set – you’re surrounded by towering, golden Ginkgo trees, lit up with bright, colorful lights. It is quite a sight to behold. The park is wonderful to visit any time of the year. It has a scented rose garden, stadiums and sports fields, as well as wide meadows to stroll and relax. At the park, you can also find the Fukushima City Minka-en Open-Air Museum.