Koriyama

Koriyama (郡山) is a city in Japan. It is located at the center of the Fukushima Prefecture and within the Tohoku Region. It is located at the cross-roads of air, rail and highway links, including Fukushima Airport, the Tohoku Expressway, the Banetsu Expressway, the Shinkansen and Tohoku Highway. The population of the city is 338,305 with a total land area of 757 square kilometers. The city flower is the Hanakatsumi and the wild cherry tree.

Koriyama is the central distributor of commercial and industrial goods in the Tohoku District. Many of the coastal areas traditionally specialize in fishing and the seafood industries. This being an upland region there is somewhat of a focus on agriculture. There is also a strong industry in software and electronics.

History

At the beginning of the Meiji Era, Koriyama joined into the Boshin War and many of the villages were burned down. Reconstruction of the area was quick because of the Asakas Canal bringing irrigation water from Lake Inawashiro to dry the plains of Asaka. Samurai were summoned to relocate and cultivate the land. Later in the Meiji Era the canal water power was utilized to generate electricity. This helped develop the silk-spinning industry.

During the Taisho Period in 1924, Koriyama was incorporated as a city.

During World War II, Koriyama was air bombed three times. It was the most severely damaged in the entire area. At the end of the war on August 15, 1945 Japan began to rebuild their city in a democratic and peaceful way.

In 1964 it was designated as a New Industrial City and then in 1965 it was re-zoned to include neighboring towns and villages. Since then, the city has continued to develop as a hub of commerce and industry and has become a prominent city in the Tohoku region.

Points of Interest

• Kaiseizan Park was completed in the early part of the Meiji Era around Isuzu Lake which was used as a park reservoir. The blossoming cherry trees bordering the streets are one of the most beautiful spots in the prefecture. In 1992, a monument called Tribute to the Frontiersmen, was erected in commemoration of the pioneering spirt of Asaka.
• Oshu Highway is one of the five highways from Edo. It was made famous by the poet Matsuo Basho, who searched the highway for the legendary hazy curtain of flowers. Visitors can enjoy strolling along the path beneath the pines from Hiwada to Tomikuyama which is a 45 minute journey.
• Suge Waterfalls was selected as one of the ten places which are beautiful, are part of history and show the importance of water to the city. The falls are on the Suge River and measure over seven meters high. The Kitsushima Temple is close by. It is a popular place to see the fresh green leaves of spring, enjoy a cool summer breeze or to view the autumn leaves.

External Links

• Koriyama Official Website (English)
• Koriyama Official Website (Japanese)