Nihonmatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Nihonmatsu is a city in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The Adachi neighborhood of Nihonmatsu was the birthplace of artist Chieko Takamura, subject of the book of poems Chieko's Sky, written by her husband Kōtarō Takamura.

Geography Nihonmatsu is located in the Nakadōri section of Fukushima prefecture, between the cities of Fukushima and Kōriyama. It is approximately 250 km from central Tokyo. Nihonmatsu's western border consists of the Adatara mountain range. The Abukuma River runs through the eastern part (forming the border between the former towns of Adachi and Tōwa), flowing from south to north. • Lakes: Miharu Dam • Mountains: Mount Adatara (1,728 m), Hiyama (1,054 m), Kohatayama (666.3 m) • Rivers: Abukuma River

Neighboring municipalities Fukushima Prefecture ◦ Fukushima ◦ Kōriyama ◦ Tamura ◦ Motomiya ◦ Namie ◦ Katsurao ◦ Kawamata ◦ Ōtama ◦ Inawashiro.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Nihonmatsu peaked around 1950 and has since declined to pre-1920s levels.

History The area of present-day Nihonmatsu was part of ancient Mutsu Province. It developed as post station on the Ōshū Kaidō highway and as the castle town of Nihonmatsu Domain, a 100,700 koku han, which was ruled by the Niwa clan under the Tokugawa shogunate) in the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Adachi District in the Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province.

The town of Nihonmatsu was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Nihonmatsu annexed the neighboring villages of Shiozawa, Dakeshita, Sugita, Ishii and Ohdaira on January 1, 1955 and was elevated to city status on October 1, 1958. The city annexed the towns of Adachi, Iwashiro and Tōwa (all from Adach District) on December 1, 2005.

Government Nihonmatsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. Nihonmatsu contributes two members to the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Fukushima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Nihonmatsu is a regional commercial centre with a mixed economy. It is especially noted for furniture manufacturing and sake brewing.

Education Nihonmatsu has 16 public elementary schools and seven public junior high school operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Fukushima Board of Education. • Fukushima Prefectural Adachi High School • Fukushima Prefectural Adachi Higashi High School • Fukushima Prefectural Nihonmatsu Industrial High School.

Transport: Rail • JR East - Tōhoku Main Line; ◦ Sugita - Nihonmatsu - Adachi.

Transport: Road • Tōhoku Expressway – Nihonmatsu Interchange • National Route 4 • National Route 349 • National Route 459.

Tourist spot • Nihonmatsu Castle, also known as Kasumiga Castle, is a historical castle along with a park. Nihonmatsu Castle is one of Japan's Top 100 Castles. Nihonmatsu Castle has also been called one of the top 100 sites in Japan for cherry blossom viewing by Wikivoyage. • Obama Castle, historical castle ruins • Dake Onsen onsen resort located in western Nihonmatsu. • Ebisu Circuit, famous drift racing track, adjacent to Tohoku Safari Park. • The Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival is held every October 4–6. The festival has been held annually since 1643 and is one of the three largest lantern festivals in Japan.

Sake Nihonmatsu has a long history of sake brewing, with several sake breweries headquartered in the city: • Daishichi established in 1752, one of the few breweries that continues to use the traditional kimoto brewing process. Tours are available. • Okunomatsu established in 1716. • Ninki Sake Brewery established in 1897. • Himonoya, maker of the Senkonari brand sake.