Sukagawa, Fukushima Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Sukagawa (須賀川市) is a city located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

The total area of the city was 279.43 square km (107.9 sq mi).

Geography Sukagawa is located in central Fukushima prefecture. • Rivers: Abukuma River, Shakadogawa • Mountains: Uzumine (676.9m).

Neighboring municipalities • Fukushima Prefecture: ◦ Kōriyama ◦ Ten'ei ◦ Kagamiishi ◦ Tamakawa ◦ Hirata.

History The area of present-day Sukagawa was part of ancient Mutsu Province. Remains from the Japanese Paleolithic through the Nara period and Heian period indicate continuous settlement of the area for many centuries. Sulagawa developed as a castle town of the Nikaido clan during the Kamakura period. The castle was destroyed by Date Masamune after his aunt Onamihime surrendered the castle during the Sengoku period. During the Edo period the area prospered from its location as a major lodging place on Ōshū Kaidō, which is one of the Edo Five Routes, and was the commercial centre in the region. The area was mostly administered as an exclave of Takada Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. After the Meiji restoration, it was organised as part of Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province.

The village of Sukagawa was formed on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. However, after mid-Meiji period, the municipality was eclipsed by Kōriyama, which had succeeded in inviting the junction of West Ban'etsu Line with the Tōhoku Main Line train routes. On March 31, 1954 Sukagawa was elevated to city status after merging with the town of Hamada and villages of Nishibukuro and Inada (all from Iwase District), and the village of Oshioe (from Ishikawa District). Later, Sukagawa absorbed Niida Village (from Iwase District) on March 10, 1955, and then absorbed Ohigashi Village (from Ishikawa District) on February 1, 1967. On April 1, 2005, Sukagawa absorbed the town of Naganuma and village Iwase (both from Iwase District).

After the earthquake of 2011, the Fujinuma Dam collapsed resulting in seven fatalities.

Economy Sukagawa has a mixed economy, and is a major commercial centre for the surrounding region.

Transport: Rail JR East – Tōhoku Main Line • Sukagawa.

JR East – Suigun Line • Kawahigashi - Oshioe.

Transport: Road • Tōhoku Expressway – Sukagawa Interchange • National Route 4 • National Route 118 • National Route 294.

Local attractions • Sukagawa Peony Garden • Uzumine • Shōnindan temple ruins • Sukagawa Ichirizuka • Beizanji Sutra Mounds • Fujinuma Dam • Taimatsu Akashi Festival.