The present-day city of Fukushima partially consists of most of the formerShinobu andDate Districts and a portion of the formerAdachi District. The city is located in theFukushima Basin's southwest area and nearby mountains.
Inancient Japan, the area now known as Fukushima City was calledMinekoshi (岑越). The mountain in the middle of the city, present-dayMt. Shinobu, was also formerly called Mt. Minekoshi (岑越山).
During theJōmon period, for around 2,000 years there was a large settlement on the eastern bank of theAbukuma River. This area has since been excavated and named theMiyahata Site.
In the 5th century AD, Kumano Atai (久麻直) was appointed by theYamato court (大和朝廷) to be the ShinobuKuni no miyatsuko (信夫国造), giving him control over the Fukushima Basin.
Under theNara period'sRitsuryō system, stations were established along theSeven Circuits so that officials could change horses. One of the stations, theTōsandō, passed through the area of present-day Fukushima, and Minekoshi Station was established on the route. Minekoshi Station was located south of theSurikami River and north of theMatsukawa River, which at the time flowed to the south of Mt. Minekoshi. The area south of the Matsukawa River was then, as it still is now, known as Suginome (杉妻). Thus it is believed that the station was located north of the area around the present-day prefectural office, in the Kita-gorōuchi area (北五老内地域).
The implementation of the Ritsuryō system also resulted in administrative changes, with the area of present-day Fukushima andDate being combined to form the district of Shinobu. This was the northernmost point of theMutsu Province and held responsibility for preventing the southern expansion of theEmishi, a people who lived in northernHonshū.
After 718, and the widening influence of the Yamato Imperial Court, Mutsu Province was expanded northwards into present-dayMiyagi Prefecture. Along with this redrawing of boundaries, present-day Fukushima Prefecture was separated from the new Mutsu Province (approximately present-day Miyagi) and split between the newly formed provinces ofIwaki in the east andIwase in the west. However, by 724 Mutsu Province was unable to deal on its own with the economic costs of holding back the Emishi, so Iwaki and Iwase provinces were merged back into Mutsu.
In the first half of the 10th century, the Date district was separated from the Shinobu district. As a reform to thesōyōchō (租庸調) tax on rice, labor, and textiles, there was a nationwide effort from the Imperial Court to split updistricts so they each had approximately the same population. This was accomplished both through administrative changes and forced population relocations. With Mutsu Province viewed as reclaimed land by the Imperial Court, the area saw a significant amount of reorganization.
In the lateHeian period, almost the entirety of theTōhoku region was ruled by theNorthern Fujiwara clan. Relatives of the Northern Fujiwara clan, the Shinobu Satō clan (信夫佐藤氏) was given domain over nearly the entirety of present-day Fukushima Prefecture's centrally locatedNakadōri area and eventually expanded their control to includeAizu to the west as well. It is said that the Shinobu Satō clan is one of the reasons for theSatō surname spreading throughout and eventually becoming the most common surname in Japan.
Site of Daibutsu Castle, also known as Suginome Castle and laterFukushima Castle. It is now home to the Fukushima Prefectural Offices.
In 1413,Date Mochimune (伊達持宗) shut himself inside Daibutsu Castle (大仏城) in defiance of theKamakura kubō. This is the first known historical mention of Daibutsu Castle, which was near the confluence of the Abukuma andArakawa rivers at the present-day location of the Fukushima Prefectural Offices. It is said that the castle was named after the "Suginome Great Buddha" (杉妻大仏,SuginomeDaibutsu), aVairocana Buddha statue kept within the castle. The castle was also known as Suginome Castle (杉妻城).[4] It is believed that in this time period the area's name was changed from Minekoshi toSuginome (杉妻) to reflect the concentration of political power in the area.
During theAzuchi–Momoyama period, in 1591Gamō Ujisato gained control of the Shinobu and Date districts, and under himKimura Yoshikiyo (木村吉清) took control of Ōmori Castle (大森城), which was in the southwest of present-day Fukushima. The following year he moved from Ōmori Castle to Suginome Castle. It is said that, inspired by the recent renaming ofKurogawa-jō (黒川城, "Black River Castle") to the more joyous-soundingWakamatsu-jō (若松城, "Young Pine Castle"), he changed the name of his new residence toFukushima-jō (福島城, "Lucky Island Castle").[4] This castle, like many others in Japan, was later demolished at the beginning of the Meiji period.
In 1600,Date Masamune andHonjō Shigenaga, who was under theUesugi clan and head ofFukushima Castle at the time, fought the Battle of Matsukawa (松川の戦い). At the time, the Matsukawa River flowed in a different riverbed than it does now, as the current Matsukawa River is north of Mt. Shinobu, while the Matsukawa River at the time of the battle flowed south of Mt. Shinobu. It is said that the Battle of Matsukawa's battlefield extended from the southern base of Mt. Shinobu and extended into the center of modern-day Fukushima. In 1664 the Uesugi clan lost control of the Shinobu district, and the area became directly ruled by theTokugawa shogunate.
In 1702, theFukushima Domain was established and governed from Fukushima Castle, and in 1787, theShimomura Domain (下村藩) was established in the present-day Sakurashimo area in the western part of Fukushima. This domain was later abolished in 1823.
On November 17, 1868, Itakura Katsumi (板倉勝己), the head of the Fukushima Domain, surrendered to theSatchō Alliance and handed over control of Fukushima Castle toWatanabe Kiyoshi (渡辺清). The Fukushima Domain was abolished the following year. In line with theabolition of domains and introduction of the prefecture system, the first iteration of Fukushima Prefecture came into being on August 29, 1871. The prefecture at the time consisted of the Shinobu, Date, andAdachi districts.
With permission from theMinistry of the Treasury, on September 10, 1871, the village of Fukushima (福島村,Fukushima-mura) changed its name to the town ofFukushima (福島町,Fukushima-machi). Fukushima Prefecture was absorbed into Nihonmatsu Prefecture on November 2, making Nihonmatsu Prefecture consist of approximately the entirety of the Nakadōri area. On November 14, Nihonmatsu Prefecture's name was changed to Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima City was named the prefecture's capital.
Nearly five years later, on August 21, 1876, Fukushima Prefecture merged withIwasaki Prefecture (磐前県) (consisting of the coastalHamadōri area) andWakamatsu Prefecture (若松県) (consisting of Aizu in the west), thus creating present-day Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima continued to serve as the prefecture's capital. In 1879, the Shinobu district's government offices were moved to Fukushima.
On November 3, 1881, National Route 13 (國道13號,Kokudō Jūsan-gō), which generally followed a portion of the oldUshū Kaidō, was opened and linked Fukushima toYonezawa, approximately 45 km to the northwest. On December 15, 1887, the section of theTōhoku Main Line running through Fukushima, connectingKōriyama Station in the south toIwakiri Station in the north, was opened. In Fukushima, this saw the opening ofFukushima Station andMatsukawa Station.
In 1888, there was a large-scale merger of municipalities. In the Date district, the village of Yuno (湯野村) absorbed the village of Higashiyuno (東湯野村), the villages of Kamioguni (上小国村) and Shimooguni (下小国村) merged to form the village of Oguni (小国村), the villages of Tatsukoyama (立小山) and Aoki (青木村) merged to form the village of Tatsuki (立木村). In the Adachi district, the village of Shimokawasaki (下川崎村) absorbed the village of Numabukuro (沼袋村). In the Shinobu district, the village of Kamiiizaka (上飯坂村) became the town of Iizaka (飯坂町). The Shinobu district reduced onetown and 70villages down to two towns and 26 villages.
1890 saw the opening of the Tri-District Joint Association Hospital (三郡共立組合病院), which was the predecessor ofFukushima Medical University. On March 19, 1893, Mt. Azuma's Mt. Issaikyō peak erupted, and on May 15, 1899, Fukushima was linked to Yonezawa by rail via the opening of the Ōu South Line (奥羽南線), part of the present-dayŌu Main Line. The opening ofNiwasaka Station corresponded with the opening of the line. Also in 1899, aBank of Japan branch was established in Fukushima, the bank's first branch in the Tōhoku region.
On April 1, 1907, the town of Fukushima officially became thecity ofFukushima (福島市,Fukushima-shi). It was the second municipality in the prefecture and 59th in the nation to become a city. At the time, Fukushima had a population of 30,000.
On April 14, 1908, the Shintatsu Tramway Company (信達軌道会社) opened alight rail system that connected Fukushima Rail Stop (福島停車場) to Yuno (湯野) via Nagaoka (長岡). Also in 1908, the Fukushima City Library (福島市立図書館) opened.
On June 28, 1918, theFukushima Race Course held its first horse race. On August 30 of the same year, rice riots occurred in the city.
On April 13, 1924, the Fukushima Iizaka Electric Tramway, precursor to the present-dayIizaka Line, began service linkingFukushima Station to Iizaka Station (present-dayHanamizuzaka Station). Three years later, in 1927, the line was extended further north to its present-day terminus ofIizaka Onsen Station. 1927 also saw the opening of Fukushima Building (福島ビル) and with it the prefecture's first elevator. In 1929 the Fukushima City Library closed and the Fukushima Prefectural Library (県立図書館) opened in its place, taking over the Fukushima City Library's collections and facilities. 1929 also saw the beginning of bus service within the city.
In 1937, a section of the village of Noda (野田村) was absorbed into Fukushima, and in 1939 Yumoto Credit Financing Association (湯元信用無尽株式会社) took over Fukushima Finance Association (福島無尽株式会社), changed its name to Fukushima Finance Provider (株式会社福島無尽金庫), and moved its head office to Fukushima. This was the precursor to the present-dayFukushima Bank (株式会社福島銀行).
In 1946,Toho Bank moved its head office to Fukushima, on June 18, 1947 Fukushima Prefecture Girl's Medical School (福島県立女子医学専門学校) became Fukushima Medical University, and on March 7, 1948, the Fukushima Prefecture Police Department was dismantled and the Fukushima City Police formed.
Scene of the Matsukawa incident, in which the Tōhoku Main Line tracks between Kanayagawa and Matsukawa stations were sabotaged, resulting in three deaths. This was highly reminiscent of the prior year's Niwasaka incident and the prior month'sMitaka incident.
On April 27, 1948, at 12:04 am, a train on theŌu Main Line bound forUeno derailed upon exiting a tunnel betweenAkaiwa andNiwasaka stations, killing three crew members. Upon inspection of the crash scene it was determined that someone had removed from the track two connecting plates, sixspikes, and four bolts. The perpetrator was never found. This became known as theNiwasaka incident.
On August 17, 1949, at 3:09 am theMatsukawa incident occurred. In a scene highly reminiscent of the scene from the previous year's Niwasaka incident, a train bound forUeno derailed, killing three crew members. Inspection of the tracks revealed that connecting plates and spikes had been removed. Furthermore, a 25 m (82 ft) 925 kg (2,039 lb) section of rail had been moved 13 m (43 ft) from the track. No one was ever convicted of the crime. 1949 also saw the opening ofFukushima University.
In 1952, a new city hall was opened in the Gorōuchi (五老内町) neighborhood. The SeventhNational Sports Festival of Japan was also held in the city, and in 1954 the present-day Fukushima Prefectural Office's main wing was completed and the Fukushima City Police were integrated into the Fukushima Prefecture Police. In March 1959 NHK began television broadcasts. Later that year, on May 11, theBandai-Azuma Skyline tourist roadway opened.
In January 1966, the KitamachiRoute 4 bypass was completed, and on May 29 the 2,376 metres (7,795 ft) Kuriko Tunnel (栗子トンネル) onRoute 13 was opened.
The very first Waraji Festival (わらじ祭り) was held on August 1, 1970. In the festival participants parade a largewaraji straw sandal through the streets of Fukushima. Two months later, on November 1, Route13's Mt. Shinobu Tunnel (信夫山トンネル). TheIizaka East Line was shut down on April 12, 1971, leaving the Iizaka Line the only remaining railway operated byFukushima Transportation. The same year Fukushima Prefectural Office's west wing was completed, making it, at the time, the tallest building in the prefecture. The section of theTōhoku Expressway linkingKōriyama in the south toShiroishi in the north, via Fukushima, opened on April 1, 1975. TheTōhoku Shinkansen opened on June 23, 1982, and connectedŌmiya in the south toMorioka in the north, via Fukushima.
The Abukuma Express Line opened on September 13, 1986, and linked Fukushima to Miyagi Prefecture in the north.
The Route 4 South Bypass opened on November 11, 1983, and theFukushima Prefectural Museum of Art and Prefectural Library were completed on July 22, 1983. Fukushima hosted the firstEast Japan Women's Ekiden road relay race on November 24, 1985.
On August 4 and 5 of 1986 the Abukuma River and its tributaries flooded due to Nakdōri receiving from 200 to 300 mm (7.9 to 11.8 in) of rain from atyphoon. Cities and towns along the Abukuma River and its tributaries, Fukushima included, suffered 11 people killed or injured, and damage to 14,000 buildings.
Later that year, on September 13, theFukushima Azuma Stadium was completed. TheAbukuma Express Line, a 54.9 km (34.1 mi) railway line linking Fukushima toMarumori in the north, began operations on July 1, 1988, and on November 12, theYūji Koseki Memorial Museum was opened.
The Surikamigawa Dam was officially completed on September 25, 2005.
The Fukushima Mutual Bank changed its name to Fukushima Bank in February 1989, and on September 27Route 115's 3,360 m (11,020 ft) Tsuchiyu Tunnel (土湯トンネル) was opened. On July 1, 1992, theYamagata Shinkansen opened, connecting Fukushima toYamagata. In 1995, the 50thNational Sports Festival of Japan was held, primarily at Azuma Sports Park in the west of the city.
The dam completion ceremony for theSurikamigawa Dam in the Moniwa area was held on September 25, 2005.
April 1, 2007, was the 100th anniversary of Fukushima becoming a city, and to celebrate, adashi (山車; a type of parade float) festival was held on June 30.Dashi representing the former towns and villages that make up modern-day Fukushima paraded and gathered in front of Fukushima Station.
During theGreat Heisei Merger, Fukushima and the towns ofKawamata andIino held merger talks, however on December 1, 2006, Kawamata withdrew from the talks. Negotiations between Fukushima and Iino continued, and on July 1, 2008, the town of Iino was incorporated into Fukushima.
Fukushima's new city hall opened on January 4, 2011.
On January 4, 2011, Fukushima officially opened a new city hall to replace the previous one built in 1952. The new city hall, as was the previous one, is located in Gorōuchi-machi, next toNational Route 4 in the center of the city.
On March 11, 2011, the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurred, with the earthquake causing ruptures in multiple water mains originating from the Surikamigawa Dam, which supplies much of the city's water. This resulted in the majority of the city losing access to running water.[5] Train services were also stopped due to damage caused to railway infrastructure. The Iizaka Line reopened two days later on March 13,[6] and on March 31 theYamagata Shinkansen resumed limited service and theŌu Main Line resumed full service.[7] By April 7 theTōhoku Main Line was reopened in both directions, however it was closed again following astrong earthquake later that night. The Tōhoku Main Line was again reopened in both directions from Fukushima on April 17.[8] TheTōhoku Shinkansen reopened with limited service on April 23,[9] and theAbukuma Express Line resumed limited service from Fukushima on April 28.[10]
On April 1, 2018, Fukushima City became acore city.
Fukushima is located in the central northeast section of Fukushima Prefecture, approximately 50 km (31 mi) east ofLake Inawashiro, 250 km (160 mi) north ofTokyo, and about 80 km (50 mi) south of Sendai. It lies between theŌu Mountains to the west and theAbukuma Highlands to the east. Most of the city is within the southeast area and nearby mountains of the Fukushima Basin.Mt. Azuma andMt. Adatara loom over the city from the west and southwest, respectively
An aerial photo of a portion of Fukushima Basin, facing south. The Ōu Mountains can be seen along the right side of the image. Mt. Shinobu can be seen in the center-left as the mountain surrounded by the city, with the Abukuma River flowing south–north to the east (left) of Mt. Shinobu. To the north (bottom) of Mt. Shinobu is the Matsukawa River flowing east (left) into the Abukuma River. A little south (above) of Mt. Shinobu the Arakawa River also flows east (left) into the Abukuma River.The Arakawa River flowing through Fukushima
The Fukushima Basin is created by the surrounding Ōu Mountains in the west and the Abukuma Highlands in the east, with theAbukuma River flowing through the center of the basin, from south to north. Multipletributaries to the Abukuma River source in the Ōu Mountains before flowing down into Fukushima, namely theSurikami,Matsukawa, andArakawa rivers. These rivers flow eastward through the western side of the city until joining up with the Abukuma River in the central parts of the city. The irrigation from these rivers were formerly used for the cultivation ofmullberry trees; however, in the latter half of the 20th century cultivation was switched from focusing on mullberry trees, and instead growing a variety of fruit orchards.
The highest point within the city limits isMt. Higashi-Azuma, a 1,974 m (6,476 ft) peak of Mt. Azuma, located on the western edge of the city. The lowest point is the neighborhood of Mukaisenoue (向瀬上), which is in the northeastern part of the city and has an elevation of 55 m (180 ft). Mt. Shinobu, 276 m (906 ft) amonadnock, lies in the southeastern section of the Fukushima Basin and is a symbol of the city.
The Abukuma River flows south to north through the central area of Fukushima and joins with many tributaries on its journey through the city. The Arakawa River originates from Mt. Azuma and flows eastward, eventually flowing into the Abukuma River near the city center. The Matsukawa River, which flows eastward from its origin in Mt. Azuma and also joins with the Abukuma River in the northern part of the city. Another major tributary of the Abukuma River is the Surikami River, which originates along the Fukushima-Yamagata prefectural border near the Moniwa area in the northwest of the city. From there it flows into Lake Moniwa, areservoir created by theSurikamigawa Dam. From there it continues flowing southeast before meeting up with the Abukuma River in northern Fukushima, thus completing its 32 km (20 mi) run.
Other tributaries of the Abukuma River which flow within Fukushima are the Kohata (木幡川), Megami (女神川), Mizuhara (水原), Tatsuta (立田川), Shimoasa (下浅川), Tazawa (田沢川), Iri (入川), Ōmori (大森川), and Hattanda (八反田川) rivers. The Oguni River (小国川) also flows through the city and is a tributary of the Hirose River (広瀬川), which itself is also a tributary of the Abukuma River, however the Oguni River does not meet up with the Hirose River until the district ofDate, outside of the Fukushima city limits.
Goshiki-numa, a crater lake at the Azuma Mountain Range's Mt. Issaikyō peak
There are multiple lakes in the area of Fukushima that falls withinBandai-Asahi National Park.Goshiki-numa (五色沼, Five-colored Lake), also calledMajo no Hitomi (魔女の瞳, The Witch's Eye) is acaldera lake located in Mt. Azuma's Mt. Issaikyō peak. The lake is so-named due its water color changing in relation to weather conditions. Lake Kama (鎌沼) and Lake Oke (桶沼) are also located in Bandai-Asahi National Park.[12]
In theTsuchiyu area in the western part of the city lie the small lakes of Lake Me (女沼), Lake O (男沼), and Lake Nida (仁田沼). In the neighborhood of Watari (渡利) lies Lake Chaya (茶屋沼). Lake Jūroku (十六沼) is in the Ōzasō (大笹生) neighborhood.
Under theKöppen climate classification, Fukushima has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa). There is often a large temperature and weather difference between central Fukushima versus the mountains on the edge of the city. The hottest month tends to be August, with an average high of 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in central Fukushima, at an elevation of 67 metres (220 ft), while Tsuchiyu Pass on the western edge of the city and at an elevation of 1,220 metres (4,003 ft) has an average August high of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F). The coldest month tends to be January, with an average low of −1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in central Fukushima and −9.0 °C (15.8 °F) on Tsuchiyu Pass.[13][14]
On average, central Fukushima receives 1,166.0 mm (45.91 in) of precipitation annually and receives 0.5 mm (0.020 in) or more of precipitation on 125.2 days per year. An average of 189 cm (74 in) of snow falls annually, with 22.9 days receiving 5 cm (2.0 in) or more of snow. An average of 74 cm (29 in) of snow falls in January, making it the snowiest month. Central Fukushima also receives an average of 1,738.8 hours of sunshine per year, significantly more than the 1,166.5 hours received at Tsuchiyu Pass.[13][14]
Climate data for Fukushima (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1889−present)
Fukushima has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city legislature of 35 members. The city also contributes eight members to the Fukushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, most of the city falls within the Fukushima 1st district, a single-member constituency of theHouse of Representatives in the nationalDiet of Japan, which also includes the cities ofDate,Sōma,Minamisōma andDate District andSōma District.
Fukushima has the third-highest population in the prefecture, behind the cities ofIwaki, with 377,288, andKōriyama, with 336,328.[19][11] This makes Fukushima the only prefectural capital in Japan that is the third-largest city in the prefecture.
The Fukushimametropolitan area had a May 2011 estimated population of 452,912 and consisted of the towns and cities ofNihonmatsu,Date,Kunimi,Koori,Kawamata, and Fukushima. It is the second most populous metropolitan area in Fukushima Prefecture, with the Kōriyama metropolitan area being the largest with a population of 553,996.[19][20] The Fukushima metropolitan area is also the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the Tōhoku region.
Comparison of Population Distribution between Fukushima and Japanese National Average
Population Distribution by Age and Sex in Fukushima
As of 2005, the total income of all citizens of Fukushima totalled¥1.108 trillion. Of this income, 0.8% was made in theprimary sector, 24.1% in thesecondary sector, and 80.1% in thetertiary sector.[21]
Income in the primary sector was led by that from agriculture, which totaled¥8.939 billion. The secondary sector was led by general manufacturing, with income there totaling¥218.4 billion. The service industry led the tertiary sector with a total income of¥271.6 billion.[21]
The majority of Fukushima'sagricultural economic output is from plantingcrops. As of 2010, out of a total agricultural monetary yield of¥20.83 billion, crops accounted for¥19.14 billion andlivestock accounted for¥1.68 billion. Of crops planted in Fukushima,fruit comprises 60% of monetary yield,rice 13%,vegetables 12%, and other various crops round out the final 15%. For livestock, bothmilk andchicken led production with values of¥640 million each.[22]
Fruits by far make up the largest value of crops grown in Fukushima, led by an annual production of 14,935 tons ofapples, 13,200 tons ofJapanese pears, and 11,517 tons ofpeaches. While Fukushima produces more apples and pears than peaches, as a percentage of national fruit production, in 2010 Fukushima produced 8.2% of all peaches grown in the country, compared to 5.1% of all Japanese pears and 2.3% of all apples. When the neighboring cities ofDate,Kunimi andKoori, all of which are also in the Fukushima Basin, are taken into effect, the Fukushima metro area produced 20.1% of all peaches grown in Japan in 2010.[22][23]The city is known for its manypeach,pear,apple, andcherry orchards which are located throughout the city, especially along the so-called Fruit Line (フルーツライン) road that loops the western edge of the city. Fukushima is also sometimes known as the Fruit Kingdom (くだもの王国).[24]
In 2009 Fukushima's industries directly employed 18,678 workers and shipped ¥671 billion worth of goods. This was led by information-related industries with 50.5% of total output. Other industries in Fukushima include those dealing with food at 7.6% of total output, metals at 7.5%, chemistry at 5.3%, ceramics at 4.9%, electricity at 4.5%, printed goods at 2.8%, steel at 2.5%, plastics at 2.5%, and electronics at 2.2%. Other various industries make up the final 9.8%.[25]
In 2009, the value of goods shipped by Fukushima's industries comprised 14.2% of all of Fukushima Prefecture's total output for the year.[25]
For the year of 2007,wholesale products sold in Fukushima totalled¥494 billion and employed 6,645 workers, whileretail sales for the same time period totalled¥319 billion, and employed 18,767 workers. Total combined sales of both retail and wholesale products in 2007 came to¥813 billion, approximately a quarter less than sales in 1997 a decade prior.[26]
A Fukushima Transportation 7000-series car on the Iizaka Line, betweenBijutsukantoshokanmae andIwashiroshimizu stationsFukushima Station looking south from Mt. Shinobu. At the station the Tōhoku Shinkansen (top of photo) splits into the Tōhoku Shinkansen (bottom middle) heading north and Yamagata Shinkansen (bottom right) heading west.
In addition to the Tōhoku and Yamagata shinkansen,JR East also provides service from Fukushima Station on theTōhoku Main Line andŌu Main Line routes. Fukushima Station is 272.8 km (169.5 mi) north of Tokyo via the Tōhoku Main Line, which then continues north toMorioka Station. The Ōu Main Line originates at Fukushima Station then runs 484.5 km (301.1 mi) north toAomori Station, taking a more western route than the Tōhoku Main Line. Train services are also provided byFukushima Transportation andAbukumaExpress, which respectively run theIizaka Line and theAbukuma Express Line. The Iizaka Line is a commuter train which connects the center of the city toIizaka in the north of the city. TheAbukuma Express Line takes a route following theAbukuma River and connects the city toMiyagi Prefecture in the north.
Local bus services throughout the city and region are primarily operated byFukushima Transportation. Local bus service to theKawamata area is offered by bothJR Bus Tōhoku andKanehachi Taxi. Intercity buses are operated by a multitude of companies and link Fukushima to the cities ofIwaki,Aizuwakamatsu, andKōriyama within the prefectures and to theSendai,Tokyo, andKinki areas outside the prefecture, among others.
The northeast approach of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline scenic toll road
Fukushima operates 19 libraries and library branches throughout the city,[32] and is also home to the Fukushima Prefectural Library, which is administered by Fukushima Prefecture and is adjacent to the Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art.[33]
^ab『福島のあゆみ』編集委員会 ("The Progression of Fukushima" Editing Association), ed. (31 March 1969) [1967].福島のあゆみ [The Progression of Fukushima] (in Japanese). 福島市教育委員会 (Fukushima City Board of Education). pp. 24–30.
^福島の飯坂電車、運転再開へ (in Japanese). MSN 産経ニュース. Archived fromthe original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved15 July 2011.
^少しずつ「復旧」実感 山形新幹線が一部運転再開 [Feeling Restoration Happen Little By Little: A Section of the Yamagata Shinkansen Reopens].Yamagata News Online. 31 March 2011. Archived fromthe original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved4 June 2012.
^山形新幹線は12日に全線再開、福島 - 仙台間に「新幹線リレー号」運転 [Yamagata Shinkansen Fully Open On the 12th, "Shinkansen Relay" Open Between Fukushima and Sendai]. マイナビニュース. 11 April 2011. Retrieved4 June 2012.
^ab市町村別人口動態（平成２３年３月１日～平成２３年４月３０日） [Individual City Population Movements (1 March 2011 - 30 April 2011)] (in Japanese). Fukushima City. Archived fromthe original(XLS) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved31 May 2012.
^ab平成19年版福島市統計書 [2009 Fukushima City Statistics Book] (in Japanese). Fukushima City. March 2010. Archived fromthe original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved30 May 2012.
^くだもの王国ふくしま [Fruit Kingdome Fukushima] (in Japanese). 福島県くだもの消費拡大委員会. Retrieved28 June 2019.
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