3 Photogenic Nature Spots with a Superb View around Iwaki’s Major Attractions

“Iwaki City” (いわき市) located in the southern part of the coast side of Fukushima Prefecture has been attracting visitors with its famous attractions including ‘Spa Resort Hawaiians’ (スパリゾートハワイアンズ) and ‘Shiramizu Amidado Temple’ (白水阿弥陀堂). When visiting them, there are also 3 other spots you cannot miss which you can access by 20 to 30-minute drive. The following is the perfect guide to enjoy a relaxing day by visiting them between major attractions.

Purely white “Shioyasaki Lighthouse”, one of the few ‘lighthouses you can go up’ in Japan, to offer a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean

“Shioyasaki Lighthouse” (塩屋埼灯台), located on a 73m cliff along the Usuiso Coast where the white sand is beautiful and the clear sea spreads out, is a lighthouse that you can actually go up. The ocean you can overlook from the top floor gives visitors a breathtaking view. The view is magnificent enough to name the lighthouse one of The fifty favorite lights in Japan. In addition, its night view with lots of sparkling stars is also awesome.

At the foot of the lighthouse, there’s a monument of the lyrics of a long-loved song ‘Midare Gami’ (みだれ髪) sung by Hibari Misora (1937 – 1989, 美空ひばり, a truly-loved famous singer representing the Showa era) as the song was set in this very area. By the way, the lighthouse was founded in the Meiji era and has been keeping the safety of the ships and boats sailing around it.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 4:00PM (closes in case of bad weather)
Address	34 Taira Usuisoyadozaki, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
Access	A 20-minute drive from Iwaki Washington Hotel
URL	http://www.tif.ne.jp/jp/spot.html?spot=628

Fun and interesting experiences await at the biggest park in Iwaki, “Iwaki Park” where the suspension bridge is the landmark

“Iwaki Park” (県営いわき公園) managed by Fukushima Prefecture is the largest park in Iwaki City where you can enjoy the scenery of each season such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. Under the theme of ‘Wonder Nature Park where you can touch the nature’, the park consists of 7 areas: ‘Main Entrance Zone’ (メインエントランスゾーン) where the shopping center is integrated, ‘Amusement Zone’ (アミューズメントゾーン) with monuments and waterfalls, ‘Asobino Zone’ (遊びのゾーン) where huge play-sets are fun, ‘Picnic Zone’ (ピクニックゾーン) where you can witness fireflies depending on the season, ‘Sports Zone’ (スポーツゾーン) with well-organized fields, ‘Rinkan Adventure Zone’ (林間アドベンチャーゾーン) where there is an observatory, and a ‘Bunka Shisetsu Zone’ (文化施設ゾーン) that conveys the history and traditions of Iwaki City. One of the attractions you should definitely visit is the 165.5-meter-long suspension bridge connecting ‘Amusement Zone’ and ‘Rinkan Adventure Zone’. While walking on the bridge, you can enjoy both relaxing views overlooking the rich green as well as the excitement of walking up high.

Opening Hours	24/7
Address	Taira Kamitakakudainichisaku, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
Access	A 15-minute drive from Iwaki Washington Hotel
HP	https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/sec/41380a/iwakikouen-top.html

“Kinuya Fuji”, a mountain you can climb up to its summit in 10-minute hiking made of 20-million-year-old rock

“Kinuyai Fuji” (絹谷富士), a rocky mountain with no trees at the top that had been formed by the volcanic activity around 20 million years ago, is named a natural monument of Iwaki City, where you can feel the everlasting time of Earth. As it’s a low mountain with a height of 217m and the trail is well maintained, you can casually climb to the summit in about 10 minutes. Heal your mind with the negative ions emitted by the trees and enjoy the refreshing breeze.

Opening Hour	24/7
Address	Taira Yotsunami Aza-Ishimori, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
Access	A 15-minute drive from Iwaki Washington Hotel
HP	https://kankou-iwaki.or.jp/spot/10107