Things to do

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History & Culture

Hashimoto Buddhist Sculpture Shop

The Hashimoto Butsugu-Chokoku Ten (Hashimoto Buddhist Sculpture Shop) has a long history of over 160 years. Here visitors can try the truly unique experience of customizing their own lacquered chopsticks. Under careful instruction, you’ll be able to go home with your very own pair of one-of-a-kind chopsticks. The establishment sells many fine lacquerware products, from kitchen utensils and crockery to masks for use as decoration or at festivals. The chopstick-customizing workshop is available for 2,500 yen per person and is very popular for groups and couples. Even children (ages 12 and up) are able to do it with the supervision of adults and the instruction of the teacher. There are also pamphlets available in English for non-Japanese speakers. The workshop is easy to understand as the instructor guides you through the various steps until you are finally able to see the revealed layers of lacquer color on your own chopsticks. The chopstick experience workshop requires a reservation made at least five days in advance. While you are at the Hashimoto Buddhist Sculpture Shop, you will be guided through the six steps of making your own lacquered chopsticks. It will be an exciting experience as you begin with red or black chopsticks and slowly file down the layers of lacquer until the patterns are revealed. Traditionally, red chopsticks are for women and black are for men. Whichever color you choose though, these are certain to be your favorite set of chopsticks full of memories.  
Museums & Galleries

Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum (Horuru)

Lovingly referred to as 'Horuru' by locals, Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum is home to exhibitions on the city's history of coal mining. Horuru also exhibits a range of fossils, including the locally-excavated Plesiosaur Futabasaurus, which was discovered by a high school student. There are also some hands-on experiences to try out, such as making your own amber accessories. Horuru is accessible on foot from Iwaki Yumoto Onsen town, and is a great addition to any trip to the Iwaki area.

Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum (Horuru)
Museums & Galleries

Eiji Tsuburaya Museum

This is a museum dedicated to Eiji Tsuburaya the “Father of Tokusatsu,” or, the “Father of Japanese special effects.” There are exhibits relating to many of the monsters, “Kaijyu,” that are featured in many of Tsuburaya’s films including a Godzilla suit and Mothera egg!Eiji Tsuburaya is from Sukagawa City so you will also find statues around town of various Kaijyu and Ultraman characters from the Ultra-series, a series that was primarily created by Tsuburaya.©円谷プロ

Eiji Tsuburaya Museum
Gourmet & Shopping

Ishiharaya Restaurant

A lovely restaurant where you can savor the flavors of handmade soba and coffee. This restaurant is commited to serving delicious, seasonal food. In summer, the noodles are made thinner. In winter, they’re made a bit thicker. You’ll be able to relish the stone-ground, handmade noodles. Their most popular topping for soba is their large umeboshi (sour pickled plums) from the Kishu Domain, which can be enjoyed as part of Ishiharaya's Grated Plum Soba dish.

Ishiharaya Restaurant
Snow Activities

Listel Ski Fantasia

Despite its modest size, Listel Ski Fantasia - located within the grounds of Hotel Listel Inawashiro - has been a FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup host since 1988, and was chosen as the mogul and aerial venue for the 2009 FIS Freestyle World Championship.Listel Ski Fantasia's main ski slope has an average gradient of 8 degrees, making it popular with beginners and family skiers. The "Kids' Land" ski area for children, onsite nursing rooms, and ski lessons available for children, make Listel Ski Fantasia a great choice for families.  

Listel Ski Fantasia
Ryokan

Yoshikawaya

Yoshikawaya is a Japanese hot spring resort in Iizaka Onsen town that blends in perfectly with the surrounding nature.Yoshikawaya is situated near a crystal-clear stream that runs down a mountain range in Fukushima City. Ryokan services are constantly improved to match the needs of guests.The ryokan provides lovingly-prepared seasonal dishes to overnight guests, with a lot of thought put into creating great flavor profiles while ensuring nutritional value.What makes Yoshikawaya special is the way the ambience is kept as close to nature as possible. With high-class service and hospitality provided by Yoshikawaya's dedicated staff, visitors are sure to enjoy their stay.

Yoshikawaya
Disaster Recovery & Revitalization

Futaba Art District

Futaba Art District is an art initiative carried out by art collective Over Alls in Futaba (双葉町), a town in the coastal area of Fukushima.As of February 2023, Futaba Art District comprises ten murals located between the JR Futaba station and the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum.Futaba town had to be evacuated and was severely affected by the nuclear accident in 2011. In 2020, the evacuation order was lifted for the area around Futaba station.The murals that make up Futaba Art District depict various aspects of Futaba's culture and pay homage to its residents.When the artists asked Futaba residents what was most representative of their town, many answered ‘daruma dolls’ (traditional Japanese dolls for good luck). Since the Edo period, Futaba town held a yearly daruma market which had a famous tug-of-war. There are now murals depicting both the tug-of-war and the daruma dolls. In 2023, the Futaba Daruma Market was held again in Futaba town after 12 years.A woman who tended the local cafe and a family who used to live in the town, as well as other members of the community, are depicted in some of the murals.On each mural, you’ll find a QR code that you can scan to learn more about it (in Japanese).You can easily reach the Futaba Art District from the JR Futaba Station. Click here for a map of the Futaba Art District (in Japanese).

Futaba Art District

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