Aizuwakamatsu
Aizuwakamatsu (会津若松市) is a city in Fukushima Prefecture, western Japan. It sits in the Aizu basin, covers about 383 square kilometers, and has around 118,000 residents. The area has a humid climate with warm summers and very snowy winters, and about 1,270 millimeters of rain each year.
Long ago the area was part of Mutsu Province. Aizuwakamatsu Castle was built here in the medieval period, and the city played an important role in regional history. In 1868 the Battle of Aizu occurred during the Boshin War. In 1869 some residents escaped to California and started the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony. Modern Aizuwakamatsu formed when Wakamatsu merged with nearby villages in 1955.
Economy and culture: Aizuwakamatsu is a local commercial center known for sake brewing and lacquerware. Today it also has industries such as textiles, wood processing, and electronics. The city has a prefectural university and a private junior college.
Education and government: The city uses a mayor–council government. It has many public elementary and junior high schools, plus high schools run by the prefecture. It is served by JR East rail lines and the Aizu Railway.
Attractions: Popular sights include Aizuwakamatsu Castle, Higashiyama Onsen, Emnei-ji, and Oyaku-en.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:43 (CET).