Fukushima 福島市
Core city
Fukushima City Montage
Flag Seal
Location of Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture
Fukushima
Coordinates: 37°45′38.9″N 140°28′29″E / 37.760806°N 140.47472°E / 37.760806; 140.47472
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima
Government
• Mayor	Hiroshi Kohata, Takanori Seto, Kobayashi Kaoru
Area
• Total	767.72 km2 (296.42 sq mi)
Elevation	67 m (220 ft)
Population  (August 1, 2023)
• Total	275,850
• Density	360/km2 (930/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Zelkova serrata[1]
- Flower	Peach[1]
- Bird	Great tit[1]
Phone number	024-535-1111
Address	3-1 Gorōuchimachi, Fukushima-shi, Fukushima-ken 960–8601
Website	Official website

Fukushima (福島市, Fukushima-shi, [ɸɯ̥kɯꜜɕima]) is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. It is located in the northern part of the Nakadōri, central region of the prefecture. As of 1 August 2023^[update], the city had an estimated population of 275,850 in 122,130 households^[2] and a population density of 359 inhabitants per square kilometre (930/sq mi). The total area of the city is 767.72 square kilometres (296.42 sq mi).^[3]

The present-day city of Fukushima partially consists of most of the former Shinobu and Date Districts and a portion of the former Adachi District. The city is located in the Fukushima Basin's southwest area and nearby mountains.

There are many onsen on the outskirts of the city, including the resort areas of Iizaka Onsen, Takayu Onsen, and Tsuchiyu Onsen. Fukushima is also the location of the Fukushima Race Course, the only Japan Racing Association horse racing track in the Tōhoku region of Japan.

Geography

Fukushima is located in the central northeast section of Fukushima Prefecture, approximately 50 km (31 mi) east of Lake Inawashiro, 250 km (160 mi) north of Tokyo, and about 80 km (50 mi) south of Sendai. It lies between the Ōu Mountains to the west and the Abukuma Highlands to the east. Most of the city is within the southeast area and nearby mountains of the Fukushima Basin. Mt. Azuma and Mt. Adatara loom over the city from the west and southwest, respectively

In the north, Fukushima is adjacent to the Miyagi Prefecture cities of Shiroishi and Shichikashuku. In the northwest, Fukushima borders the Yamagata Prefecture cities of Yonezawa and Takahata. Within Fukushima Prefecture, to the west of Fukushima is the town of Inawashiro, to the south is Nihonmatsu, to the east are Kawamata and Date, and to the northeast is Koori.^[4]

Terrain

The Fukushima Basin is created by the surrounding Ōu Mountains in the west and the Abukuma Highlands in the east, with the Abukuma River flowing through the center of the basin, from south to north. Multiple tributaries to the Abukuma River source in the Ōu Mountains before flowing down into Fukushima, namely the Surikami, Matsukawa, and Arakawa rivers. These rivers flow eastward through the western side of the city until joining up with the Abukuma River in the central parts of the city. The irrigation from these rivers were formerly used for the cultivation of mullberry trees; however, in the latter half of the 20th century cultivation was switched from focusing on mullberry trees, and instead growing a variety of fruit orchards.

The highest point within the city limits is Mt. Higashi-Azuma, a 1,974 m (6,476 ft) peak of Mt. Azuma, located on the western edge of the city. The lowest point is the neighborhood of Mukaisenoue (向瀬上), which is in the northeastern part of the city and has an elevation of 55 m (180 ft). Mt. Shinobu, 276 m (906 ft) a monadnock, lies in the southeastern section of the Fukushima Basin and is a symbol of the city.

The Abukuma River flows south to north through the central area of Fukushima and joins with many tributaries on its journey through the city. The Arakawa River originates from Mt. Azuma and flows eastward, eventually flowing into the Abukuma River near the city center. The Matsukawa River, which flows eastward from its origin in Mt. Azuma and also joins with the Abukuma River in the northern part of the city. Another major tributary of the Abukuma River is the Surikami River, which originates along the Fukushima-Yamagata prefectural border near the Moniwa area in the northwest of the city. From there it flows into Lake Moniwa, a reservoir created by the Surikamigawa Dam. From there it continues flowing southeast before meeting up with the Abukuma River in northern Fukushima, thus completing its 32 km (20 mi) run.

Other tributaries of the Abukuma River which flow within Fukushima are the Kohata (木幡川), Megami (女神川), Mizuhara (水原), Tatsuta (立田川), Shimoasa (下浅川), Tazawa (田沢川), Iri (入川), Ōmori (大森川), and Hattanda (八反田川) rivers. The Oguni River (小国川) also flows through the city and is a tributary of the Hirose River (広瀬川), which itself is also a tributary of the Abukuma River, however the Oguni River does not meet up with the Hirose River until the district of Date, outside of the Fukushima city limits.

There are multiple lakes in the area of Fukushima that falls within Bandai-Asahi National Park. Goshiki-numa (五色沼, Five-colored Lake), also called Majo no Hitomi (魔女の瞳, The Witch's Eye) is a caldera lake located in Mt. Azuma's Mt. Issaikyō peak. The lake is so-named due its water color changing in relation to weather conditions. Lake Kama (鎌沼) and Lake Oke (桶沼) are also located in Bandai-Asahi National Park.^[5]

In the Tsuchiyu area in the western part of the city lie the small lakes of Lake Me (女沼), Lake O (男沼), and Lake Nida (仁田沼). In the neighborhood of Watari (渡利) lies Lake Chaya (茶屋沼). Lake Jūroku (十六沼) is in the Ōzasō (大笹生) neighborhood.

Neighbouring municipalities

• Fukushima Prefecture
  • Nihonmatsu, Date
  • Date District – Koori, Kawamata
  • Yama District – Inawashiro
• Yamagata Prefecture
  • Yonezawa, Takahata
• Miyagi Prefecture
  • Shiroishi, Shichikashuku

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Fukushima has a humid subtropical climate. There is often a large temperature and weather difference between central Fukushima versus the mountains on the edge of the city. The hottest month tends to be August, with an average high of 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in central Fukushima, at an elevation of 67 metres (220 ft), while Tsuchiyu Pass on the western edge of the city and at an elevation of 1,220 metres (4,003 ft) has an average August high of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F). The coldest month tends to be January, with an average low of −1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in central Fukushima and −9.0 °C (15.8 °F) on Tsuchiyu Pass.^[6][7]

On average, central Fukushima receives 1,166.0 mm (45.91 in) of precipitation annually and receives 0.5 mm (0.020 in) or more of precipitation on 125.2 days per year. An average of 189 cm (74 in) of snow falls annually, with 22.9 days receiving 5 cm (2.0 in) or more of snow. An average of 74 cm (29 in) of snow falls in January, making it the snowiest month. Central Fukushima also receives an average of 1,738.8 hours of sunshine per year, significantly more than the 1,166.5 hours received at Tsuchiyu Pass.^[6][7]

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