Shinchi, town in Sōma district, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Shinchi is a small town in Fukushima on the Pacific coast with quiet streets and an active fishing port where boats return with their daily catch. The area is defined by traditional Japanese homes with tiled roofs, nearby fields and farms, and gentle hills to the west that shape the landscape.
The region was long controlled by the Soma clan during the Edo period and became an official village in the new municipal system in 1889. A tsunami in 2011 caused significant destruction along the coast, after which the community began rebuilding homes and infrastructure.
The name Shinchi comes from its roots as a fishing village on the Pacific coast where seafood remains central to daily life. Walking through the town, you see how residents maintain their traditions through seasonal festivals at local shrines and by preparing fresh catches in small restaurants and homes.
The town is easy to reach by the JR East Joban Line, which stops at Shinchi Station, or by car via the Joban Expressway at the Shinchi interchange. The best time to visit is spring through early fall when the weather is warmer and walking along the coast is pleasant.
The Shinchi Shell Mound is a historic site with remains of ancient tools and shells showing how people lived and fished thousands of years ago in this location. This ancient place connects past generations with the present and reveals the long fishing tradition of the area.
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