Shiramizu Amidado Temple (Amitabha Hall) was constructed in 1160 by Princess Tokuhime of the Oushu Fujiwara clan, which built the "golden culture" in Oushu (the present Tohoku Region). It is the only building in Fukushima Prefecture that has been designated as a national treasure. Inside the hall stands a wooden statue of Amida Nyorai as well as a number of other Buddhist statues such as Kannon Bosatsu, Seishi Bosatsu, Jikoku Tenno, and Tamon Tenno.
The garden, called Jodo Teien (Jodo, or "the pure land", is the Buddhist paradise) is a realm of natural beauty in every season. The scenery is especially breathtaking in summer when the lotus flowers are in bloom, prompting one famous writer to liken the garden to a mythical paradise.
| Website | https://kankou--iwaki-or-jp.translate.goog/spot/10117?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja |
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| Contact | Iwaki Tourism and City Planning Bureau (+81) 246-44-6545 |
| Best Season | All Year |
| Parking | 60 cars |
| Entrance Fee | Adult: 500 yen | Elementary school student: 300 yen | Discount rate available for groups |
| Accommodation details | Pets: Not allowed |
| Related info | Opening Hours: Apr. 1 - Oct. 31: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Nov. 1 - Mar. 31: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Last admission is 15 min before closing time Days Closed: - The fourth Wednesday of the month - Setsubun (Feb. 3 or 4) - Daytime during the spring and autumn equinoctial weeks - Obon summer holidays - The second Wednesday and Thursday of December Please note, Shiramizu Amidado Temple may be closed on days when the weather is particularly bad, and days for special religious events. |
| Access | 219 Hirohata, Uchigo Shiramizu-machi, Iwaki City, Fukushima Pref. 973-8405 View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 15 min from Iwaki-Yumoto I.C. exit off the Joban Expressway By Train: 25 min bus ride from Iwaki Station (JR Ban-etsu East Line / JR Joban Line) |
Iwaki has plenty to offer families traveling in Japan! This area is well-known for its delicious seafood & its amazing interactive environmental aquarium Aquamarine Fukushima. Here’s a suggested day-trip for traveling by public transportation in Iwaki.
As the park's 630 Somei Yoshino cherry blossom trees bloom simultaneously, it is easy to be swept away by the scenery. You will be able to enjoy the coming of spring as you walk along rows of cherry blossom trees on the sando (a road which runs from the torii gate to the shrine).Baryo Park is a well-known location for viewing cherry blossoms, and every year from early to mid April the park holds a light-up event at night. We recommend you visit in the evening to see the cherry blossoms illuminated by the lights from the paper lanterns. A good spot for taking pictures is at the bottom of the sando, looking up at the torii.Soma Nakamura Shrine is connected to the park and is also worth a visit for its tranquil atmosphere and beautiful architecture.
Estimated to have been carved over 1,000 years ago, the Daihisan Stone Buddhas (大悲山の石仏) are a group of stone-carved Buddhas in Odaka, Minamisoma City, in the coastal area of Fukushima prefecture.The Daihisan Stone Buddhas are made up of three groups of statues: the Yakushido Buddhas (薬師堂石仏), the Amidado Buddha (阿弥陀堂石仏), and the Kannondo Buddha (観音堂石仏). The statues are enshrined in a forest area with many smaller Buddha statues.They are the biggest and oldest stone Buddha statues in the Tohoku area of Japan, and have been designated as a National Historical Site. Their origins, and much of their history, however, remain unknown, although they are presumed to have been built sometime during the Heian period of Japanese history, which goes from 794 to 1185.In front of the entrance to the Yakushido Buddhas is a 45 meter high cedar tree known as Daihisan’s Giant Japanese Cedar Tree. The tree has a circumference of 8.4 meters at eye level, and is one of the largest trees in Fukushima prefecture, also estimated to be over 1,000 years old. It is designated as a Natural Monument of Fukushima Prefecture.
Tenzan Bunko is a quaint old-fashioned house stood in beautiful Kawauchi Village, which has been opened up as a museum. This house was presented by the village to the famous Japanese poet Kusano Shinpei. Kusano found inspiration to create many of his works at Tenzan Bunko, and this house now serves as the venue for the annual Tenzan Poetry Festival, which gives local people and poets a place to meet and network.
Stretching over more than 80 hectares, Nijuisseiki-no-Mori Park (二十一世紀の森公園) is a true haven for recreation; complete with a tennis court, a baseball stadium, a skateboard park, and a family sports garden, as well as a variety of flower fields, trees and shrubs.21st Century Forest Park is also a popular cherry blossom spot: it has both early-blooming Kawazu-sakura (which mostly bloom mid-February to mid-March) as well as Somei Yoshino cherry blossom trees (which typically bloom sometime between early to mid-April).During winter each year illumination events are held in the park, and, during autumn, the bright colored leaves attract plenty of visitors. During the summer, sunflowers and rapeseed flowers bloom, so the park truly offers ways to enjoy nature all year round.
Deep in Iitate Village on Mt. Toratori, Yamatsumi Shrine is the rare Japanese shrine based on wolves, instead of the more common foxes or 'lion dog' shisas. The ceiling of the main building, layered with dozens of traditional paintings of wolves, was damaged in a fire in 2013 but was faithfully repainted by students from the Tokyo University of the Arts utilising old photos.This is a good spot for buying an omamori good luck charm from a vending machine, or reading your fortune - there are both fortunes for general luck and for one's love life, at 50 yen and 100 yen respectively.There is ample parking near the shrine and toilets on site.
This is the shrine of the guardian deity of the Soma Domain, and a ceremony site of the Nomakake ritual which takes place during the exhilarating Soma Nomaoi Festival. Somei Yoshino cherry blossom and weeping cherry trees light up the shrine grounds in spring, making Soma Odaka Shrine a popular cherry blossom viewing spot.
Hozoji Temple is one of the oldest and most historically significant temples in the Soma region, known for its vivid autumn colours. According to tradition, it was founded in 801 AD by the military commander Sakanoue no Tamuramaro as a place to pray for success in his eastern campaigns.Although detailed records from its earliest centuries have largely been lost, the temple’s existence is attested in a few surviving documents from the 10th to 13th centuries, indicating its long-standing presence in the area. Over time, Hozoji Temple became closely tied to the spiritual life of the region and continued to develop through periods of reconstruction and renewal.The temple grounds are known for their natural beauty, especially the large fir trees - some over 400 years old - and numerous maple trees that grow throughout the property. These maples have long been admired for their striking autumn colors, and historical accounts suggest that generations of Soma clan lords once visited the temple to enjoy the seasonal foliage.In addition to its autumn scenery, the temple is also home to several varieties of cherry blossoms that bloom even during the colder months, offering visitors a chance to experience seasonal landscapes throughout the year.Architecturally, Hozoji Temple reflects the layers of its long history. The Niomon Gate, constructed in 1647 by Soma Yoshitane, the second-generation leader of the Soma clan, is one of the site’s most notable surviving structures.Today, Hozoji continues to attract visitors, photographers, and locals who come to enjoy both its historical atmosphere and its natural surroundings. In recent years, an evening illumination event held during the autumn foliage season has become a popular way to experience the temple’s grounds in a different light. The illuminations are typically held across one weekend in late November (for reference, the 2025 illuminations took place on the three-day weekend of 22-24 November.)
Kunitama Shrine (國魂神社) is located in Iwaki City, in the coastal area of Fukushima. Three deities are enshrined at Kunitama Shrine: Okuninushi (the god of nation-building, said to be the founder of Japan); Suserihime-no-Mikoto (the wife of Okuninushi) and Shohikono. The shrine is said to have been built in the year 806, and was renovated in 1942. The temple bell was designated as a tangible cultural property of the city of Iwaki in 1982. There is also a preserved cedar tree.Several events are celebrated in the shrine, such as a New Year’s Day Festival, a Rice Planting Festival, and other prayer festivals. During the summer, the shrine is beautifully decorated with colorful wind chimes.
