Ogawasuwa Shrine's Weeping Cherry Blossom

Ogawasuwa Shrine's Weeping Cherry Blossom

Selected by Iwaki City as a Natural Monument, the great weeping cherry tree is over 500 years old. The flowers bloom slightly earlier than those of Yoshino cherry trees, and are lit up by traditional Japanese lanterns in the evenings of cherry blossom season. Stretching even further down than the roots, the weeping branches of the tree give it an extremely beautiful appearance.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://kankou-iwaki.com/nature/479.html
Contact

Iwaki Tourism and City Planning Bureau (+81) 246-44-6545 https://kankou-iwaki.com/nature/479.html

(+81) 246-44-6545

Best Season
  • Spring
ParkingAvailable (Space for 30 vehicles available)
Entrance FeeFree
Related infoBest time for seeing cherry blossoms: Early April
Access Details
AccessTakahagi Ienomae 140-1, Ogawa-machi, Iwaki City, Fukushima Pref. 979-3122
View directions
Getting there

By Car: 15 min from the Iwaki Chuo I.C. exit off the Joban Expressway

By Train: 15 min by taxi from Iwaki Station (JR Joban Line).
Alternatively, take the Joban Line to Ogawago Station (JR Ban-etsu East Line), from where the shrine is just a 15 min walk away.

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<p>Aquamarine Fukushima is an &lsquo;environmental aquarium&rsquo; that exhibits aquatic creatures in environments which closely mimic their natural habitats.</p><p>As well as being an aquarium, Aquamarine Fukushima is also home to a research center and offers educational information about sustainability and conservation.</p><p>The main exhibits are two gigantic tanks that extend from the second to the fourth floor, reproducing Shiome no Umi, an area of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture where the Kuroshio (Black Current) and the Oyashio (Kurile Current) meet.</p><p>Visitors can enjoy walking through a transparent tunnel whilst being surrounded by the wealth of marine life found in Shiome no Umi, which includes vast schools of sardines and bonito. On the fourth floor, visitors can also visit a calming botanical garden which exhibits the various plant life of Fukushima Prefecture.</p><p>In addition, guests can see over the top of the main tank, a great spot to appreciate the sheer scale of the water and the curious marine life below. There is also a touch tank where&nbsp;interested visitors can try touching starfish and other small sea critters.</p><p>Since its establishment, Aquamarine Fukushima has conducted research into an ancient species of fish called coelacanths, and its findings are exhibited on the first floor in a corner entitled the World of Coelacanths. Here visitors can view an anatomical specimen of the rarely seen coelacanth and watch exclusive footage of living coelacanths.</p><p>There are events throughout the year, with many activities for children and families to enjoy together including a fish maze, art festivals, and a fishing experience where you can catch real fish to be fried for lunch!</p><p>If catching your own lunch doesn&rsquo;t appeal to you, you are in luck as there is a seafood market selling fresh seafood just a 10-minute walk away!</p><p>The seafood market is located within <a href="https://fukushima.travel/destination/iwaki-lalamew/200">Iwaki Lalamew</a>, a shopping center that also includes restaurants where you can dine on locally sourced, freshly caught fish.</p>
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The Remains of Ukedo Elementary School in Namie Town

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In the year 806, the holy priest Tokuichi constructed Hattachi-Yakushi Temple as a place of worship for the Buddhist deity who has the ability to ensure the safe voyage of seafarers. The temple grounds are extremely beautiful in spring when the hydrangeas bloom, earning the temple the local nickname ‘Hydrangea Temple’. In front of Hattachi-Yakushi Temple is Bentenjima Island and Shrine, and the Hattachi Coastline, which connects the mainland with the island. The Hattachi Coast is covered in unique gravel, which has traditionally been thought to have healing properties. However, removing a stone and bringing it home can have the opposite effect.

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