Iwaki, Core city in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Iwaki is a core city in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to forested mountains in the west. The municipality connects coastal villages with farming valleys and the thermal district of Yumoto.
The province of Iwaki split from ancient Mutsu in 718 and was divided into five districts. The present city formed in 1966 through the merger of fourteen municipalities.
The name means "five fortresses" and goes back to medieval administration. Residents today use hot springs as part of everyday life.
Coastal roads run parallel to the ocean and give access to fishing ports and swimming coves. Thermal baths in the west are reached by narrow roads through forested hills.
A former coal mine was converted into a large tropical-themed water park after its closure. Dancers from Hawaii perform daily hula shows there.
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