Nakajima



Nakajima is a village of 5000 people in the Kennan area of Fukushima, north east of Shirakawa City.

History
The area has been settled since late in the Heian Period (745-1185) when it was under control of the Ishikawa clan. Control of the area was changed to the Shirakawa clan in 1444. Fortifications in the area were destroyed by Date Masamune and his forces in 1590. The Shirakawa clans controlled the area during the Edo Period (1608-1868). In 1955 Nametsu Village and Yoshikogawa Village merged to form Nakajima Village.

Geography and Climate
The Abukuma River flows along the south eastern border between Nakajima and Ishikawa. Nakajima also shares borders with Yabuki in the north, Izumizaki in the west, and Shirakawa in the south west.

Weather is typical to the rest of central Fukushima. There is usually several dumps of snow in winter of 30-50 centimeters. The snow melts quickly during the day but refreezes overnight to form ice on the roads. Take care driving in the area during January and February.

Transportation
There are no train stations in Nakajima Village. The closest shinkansen station is Shin Shirakawa (30 minutes by car). Yabuki Station (15 minutes by car) and Izumizaki Station on the Tohoku Main Line are 15 minutes by car. Nogisawa Station (15 minutes by car) is the closest station on the Suigun Line that runs from Mito to Koriyama.

Nakajima Village is 30 minutes from Fukushima Airport by car.

Route 44 runs through the centre of Nakajima, from Yabuki in the north to Shirakawa in the south. Route 137 runs to Izumizaki in the west, and route 139 is the most direct route to Shirakawa.

Schools
There are 4 schools in the village: Nakajima Junior High School, Nametsu Elementary School, Yoshikogawa Elementary School, Nakajima Kindergarten.

Upon graduating from junior high school, most students travel to Shirakawa, Yabuki, or Ishikawa to attend high school.

To Do
Dream Park (dorimu koen)

A large park featuring BBQ areas, playgrounds, several large ponds, cherry blossoms, and the Yokappe Dokei. The Yokappe Dokei is a large clock and music box that opens and plays music on the hour, several times a day. The clock was built in 1997 with music designed by famous Japanese music producer Testuya Komuro.

Asekake Jizo

A large rock in the shape of a Jizo statue that stands at 170 centimeters tall. The statue has stood in the area for over 600 years, and it is said that the rock starts sweating in times of disaster.

Honpoji

The local temple (established in 1615), features some very old and weathered cherry blossoms.

Festivals and Events
The village festival, Iki Iki Festa, is held on the last weekend in July. The festival is usually held at the Dream Park (dorimu koen). But for the first Iki Iki Festa since the 2011 earthquake, the 2013 Iki Iki Festa was held in front of the village’s community Centre, Kirari, and neighbouring kindergarten.

Restaurants and Food
Kushihiro

Situated on route 44, south of the 7/11, next door to the golf range. Kushihiro is an izakaya style restaurant that specializes in pork ribs.

Nakaya

Opposite 7/11 on the intersection of routes 44 and 139. Shirakawa ramen with a nice selection of set menu courses and Japanese food.

Resources and Links
Homepage: http://www.vill-nakajima.jp/

Wikipedia (Japanese): http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/中島村