A vibrant commercial hub in the heart of Fukushima, Koriyama is home to one of the prefecture’s most popular cherry blossom-viewing destinations. It boasts an impressive space park with interactive simulators and sits on the doorstep of the volcanic landscapes of Mount Adatara and Lake Inawashiro-ko.

Things to do

Relax in beautiful Kaiseizan Park, which has become a symbol of Koriyama due to the thousands of sakura trees that blossom during spring. Wander through the famous sakura tunnel that has featured in numerous Japanese films, then stroll through the picturesque rose garden.

Delve into the world of space and technology at the Koriyama City Fureai Science Museum. Learn about the training astronauts undertake before venturing into space, experience the moon’s gravity in the Moon Jump and take a seat in the engineer’s cab of the steam locomotive simulator.

Witness the famous reflections of Mount Bandai in the waters of Lake Inawashiro-ko, which transforms beautifully throughout the seasons. Visit in spring when it’s frequented by thousands of wild birds or in winter when you can bathe in the surrounding hot springs. Autumn sees its trees ignite in colour, while summer offers swimming and water skiing.

To the north of Koriyama towers the stratovolcano of Mount Adatara, where the summit crater is marked by steaming fumaroles and hot springs. Soak up the spectacular views of Mount Bandai, Mount Iide and Mount Azuma from the rocky summit. You have a choice of hiking or riding the ski gondola from the Nihonmatsu Shiozawa Ski Area.

Getting around

Fukushima Airport lies around one hour's drive south of Koriyama and the city is a 1.5-hour journey on the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo. Buses travel throughout Koriyama and link most of its attractions.