Shirakawa, Administrative center in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Shirakawa is a regional administrative center located in the southern part of Fukushima Prefecture on the island of Honshu. The urban layout spreads across flat land and gentle hills, with the railway station and surrounding commercial streets forming the downtown core.
Records mention the area as early as the fourth century, when the first settlements appeared along the river valley. During the Edo period, a castle town grew around a fortification built to guard the northern approaches, and the modern city was formally established in 1949.
The city takes its name from the Shirakawa River, meaning white river, which flows through the valley and has shaped settlement patterns for centuries. Visitors today can still see how the waterway influenced where people built their homes and temples.
The railway station sits in the center of town and offers direct connections to other destinations across the Tohoku region via the main line. Visitors planning to attend local festivals should check timing in advance, as major events occur only during specific seasons.
The town hosts manufacturing facilities for Marantz and Denon audio equipment, which are assembled here for markets around the world. This industrial presence has contributed to the local economy for decades.
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