Iwami, town in Iwami district, Tottori prefecture, Japan
Iwami is a small coastal town in Tottori Prefecture facing the Sea of Japan. The settlement spreads across flat areas between low hills, featuring fishing harbor infrastructure, traditional homes, and access to the Uradome Coast, which forms part of the San'in Kaigan Geopark with its rocky inlets and cliff formations.
Iwami was once part of the old Inaba Province and came under the control of the Tottori Domain during the Edo period, governed by a branch of the Ikeda family. The modern town took shape in the 1950s when nearby villages merged together.
The name Iwami reflects the area's historical roots in the region. Today you see a working fishing community where residents actively tend rice fields and catch seafood, maintaining traditional ways of life that shape how the town operates and looks.
You can reach Iwami by train from Tottori City in about half an hour, with the station being the third stop heading east. Walking works for shorter distances, while bicycles are useful for exploring the town and reaching sights further out since roads are straightforward.
The town served as the real-world inspiration for the fictional town of Iwatobi in the anime series 'Free!' and gained unexpected attention from fans worldwide. This link to popular culture brought visitors to an otherwise quiet coastal community seeking to recognize locations from the show.
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