Koriyama



Kōriyama (郡山市 Kōriyama-shi) is a city in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2011, the city had an estimated population of 336,328. The total area is 757 km².

The city was founded on 1 September 1924. It is now designated as a "core city" and functions as a commercial city in Fukushima Prefecture. Kōriyama is the second largest conurbation in the Tōhoku region.

Kōriyama is known as the "music city". This is mainly due to the highly successful choirs from junior and senoir high schools who always place in the top 5 in national competitions.

History
Kōriyama once thrived as a 'Shukuba' town because of its importance as a traffic focal point. Shukuba (宿場) were post stations during the Edo period in Japan. Kōriyama was formerly called Asaka (安積). In the Meiji period, the Meiji government had many samurai reclaim the land to help the poor. As a result, Asaka developed into a big food basket and the population grew.

Kōriyama was incorporated as a city on the 1st of September, 1924.

Then, in 1965, the city merged with some nearby towns and villages in a conurbation. Finally, in 1997, the city was designated as a "core city".

On March 11, 2011, Fukushima Daiichi experienced a nuclear disaster, which forced mandatory evacuations of cities within 30 km of the nuclear power plant. Koriyama is located approximately 34 miles (55 km) west of Fukushima Daiichi; therefore, it was not included in the evacuation zone.

Location
Kōriyama is arguably the most advantageous place to live in Fukushima prefecture. Centrally located, Kōriyama is a 40 minute drive from Japan's fourth largest lake, Inawashiro, and its accompanying mountain, Bandai. About 90 minutes East by car will bring you to the coastal city of Iwaki, while Aizu Wakamatsu is a bit closer, on the Western side. Fukushima city, the capital, is 30-40 minutes by car North (about an hour by train). In addition to its central location, Kōriyama also lies at the crossroads of all major forms of travel in Fukushima. Fukushima airport lies in the neighboring town of Sukagawa, while the Shinkansen bullet train runs through Koriyama. Sendai lies a mere 40 minutes away to the north via Shinkansen. And finally, for the adherent motorist, the Tohoku Expressway and the Ban Etsu Expressway cross paths in Kōriyama as well.

Geography
Kōriyama is located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku region (37°24′N 140°23′E). The Adatara mountains are to the north, Lake Inawashiro is to the west, and the Abukuma highlands are to the east. The Abukuma River flows through downtown Kōriyama.

The downtown area is in front (West) of Kōriyama Station.

Transportation
Kōriyama is an important point because it is located in the center of Fukushima and it is linked to many cities like Tokyo, Sendai, Fukushima, Niigata, Mito, and Iwaki. The city serves as a hub for the railways and the expressways.

Railway
The main station in Koriyama is '''Kōriyama Station. Kōriyama Station' (郡山駅 Kōriyama-eki'') is operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). They serve five lines:
 * Tōhoku Shinkansen
 * Kōriyama Station
 * Yamabiko, Nasuno, Tsubasa


 * Tōhoku Main Line
 * Asaka-Nagamori - Kōriyama Station - Hiwada


 * East Ban'etsu Line
 * Kōriyama Station - Mōgi


 * West Ban'etsu Line
 * Kōriyama Station - Kikuta - Akogashima - Bandai-Atami - Nakayamajuku


 * Suigun Line
 * Kōriyama Station - Asaka-Nagamori - Yatagawa - Iwaki-Moriyama

Roads

 * Tōhoku Expressway
 * Asaka PA - Kōriyama-minami IC - Kōriyama IC - Kōriyama JCT
 * Ban-etsu Expressway
 * Kōriyama-higashi IC - Kōriyama JCT - Gohyakugawa PA - Bandai-atami IC
 * National Route 4
 * National Route 49
 * National Route 228
 * National Route 294

Highway buses
Riding the bus is a cheap and easy way to get to your location. If you are placed in Koriyama, most ALTs will be placed close to a major bus stop, making riding the bus not only easy, but convenient.
 * from Kōriyama to Fukushima, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Iwaki, Sendai, Niigata, Shin-Koshigaya, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Narita Airport, Yokohama, Ōsaka and Kyoto.

Buses
There are many local buses running from and around Kōriyama city. They all depart from the central station and there are 12 main bus stops spaced out in a semi-circle. Unfortunately,most of the stops are written down in Kanji (漢字). When in doubt, go and ask at the main office.For a guide of all of the different stop and their timetables, please go here.

Don't stress too much about riding the city buses. If you are unsure if the bus you're about to get on is the one you want, and you aren't too sure of your Japanese skills, asking the bus drive before you get on is super helpful. Even if you just say your stop name, the driver will understand and tell you yes or no. Try and sit close to the front so that the driver can help indicate if your stop is coming up. Don't worry too much about having exact change either as all buses have a change machine in the front, which can break down 100 yen, 500 yen, and 1000 yen denominations. Do remember that it is polite to give up your seats to the elderly, infirm, or people traveling with small children. If you are still nervous, ask one of your friendly local sempai to take a ride with you and show you the ropes. Due to the fact that you will most likely be arriving during summer break, they should easily have the time!

You can find a list of Koriyama City buses, their timetables, and stops at the Fukushima Transportation Website.

Airports
There is only one airport in Fukushima. It mainly offers domestic flights, but you can also get to Korea and China from there.


 * Fukushima Airport (Sukagawa, Fukushima); domestic and international

Prefectural

 * Asaka High School
 * Asaka Mitate Branch High School
 * Asaka Reimei High School
 * Kōriyama High School
 * Kōriyama Higashi High School
 * Kōriyama Shōgyō High School
 * Kōriyama Kita Kōgyō High School
 * Asaka Kaisei High School
 * Konan High School
 * Kōriyama Hōsei High School

Private

 * Tohoku High School of Nihon University
 * Shōshi Gakuen Shōshi High School
 * Teikyō Asaka High School
 * High School affiliated with Kōriyama Women's Colleges

Public

 * Koriyama First Junior High School
 * Koriyama Second Junior High School
 * Koriyama Third Junior High School
 * Koriyama Fourth Junior High School
 * Koriyama Fifth Junior High School
 * Koriyama Sixth Junior High School
 * Koriyama Seventh Junior High School
 * Tomita Junior High School
 * Asaka Junior High School
 * Asaka Second Junior High School
 * Ōtsuki Junior High School
 * Mihota Junior High School
 * Futase Junior High School
 * Nishida Junior High School
 * Katahira Junior High School
 * Kikuta Junior High School
 * Midorigaoka Junior High School
 * Moriyama Junior High School
 * Hiwada Junior High School
 * Meiken Junior High School
 * Koharada Junior High School
 * Kohken Junior High School
 * Miyagi Junior High School
 * Ose Junior High School
 * Konan Junior High School
 * Mitate Junior High School
 * Takase Junior High School
 * Atami Junior High School

Private

 * Xaverio Junior High School

To Do
The City:

The actual city limits of Koriyama encompass far more than the literal "city." Within the city area, main features include:

'''Kaiseizan park Hayamanori park Koriyama public hall Koriyama public library Koriyama Culture Centre Koriyama "Big-i" building/observatory Koriyama Bungaku no Mori Museum (Forest of Literature) Koriyama Culture Park Koriyama City Museum of Art Kaiseikan Hall'''

Kaiseizan park is a beautiful park with an approximately 2.2 km jogging/walking path, a track, baseball stadium, archery range, play ground, pond and numerous fountains. Not to mention, there are over 1300 cherry blossom trees there, so it is very popular during HANAMI (flower viewing).

Hayamanori park is a smaller park closer to the station. There is a pond, a waterfall, a shrine, coffee shop, play ground and beautiful gardens and gazebos. This park was made in commemoration of promotion from Koriyama Village to the post station in the Edo period. "Fall of Hayama" which is the symbol of the park, was made by bringing water from No.5 Diversion Aqueduct of Asaka Waterway. In 2002, it was registered as a National Tangible Cultural Asset.

The Koriyama Pubic Hall, along with its retrospective clock tower, is one of the representative buildings constructed during the Taisho Period. It was built to commemorate the municipalization of Koriyama City in 1924. It is one of the cherry blossom-viewing spots.

Koriyama public library is open to everyone, and is close to Hayamanori park. It is open from:

December – April: 9.30 am to 6 pm (Tuesday to Friday) 9.30 am to 5pm (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays)

May - November: 9.30 am to 7 pm (Tuesday to Saturday) 9.30 am to 5pm (Sunday and public holidays)

The Cultural Centre is available for concerts and all kinds of presentations and equipped with a large hall for 1,998 people, a middle-size hall for 800 people, an assembly room for 300 people, an exhibition room, a study room and a Japanese-style room. You can use this center based on the size of event. The office on the first floor deals with tickets of many kinds of events.

Koriyama "Big-i" building/observatory This building was opened at the west gateway of JR Koriyama Station in March 2001. It is a 24-story building with one lower ground floor, and the highest in Fukushima Prefecture with a height of 133m. This is a multiple building equipped with a shopping zone of "Molty" from 1st to 5th floor, "Civilians Plaza" focusing on the Civic Service Center from 6th to 7th floor, "Fukushima Prefectural Meisei Senior High School" from 8th to 14th floor, offices for Intelligent property from 15th to 19th floor, "Satellite Graduate School of Fukushima University", and "Koriyama City Science Hall with heartstrings" from 20th to 24th floor. It is a 1 minute walk from Koriyama Station and has an observation deck to overlook the city. Also contained within is the world's highest planetarium above sea level.

Koriyama Bungaku no Mori Museum (Forest of Literature) consists of a "Museum of Literature" which displays and houses works and materials of writers associated with Koriyama, and the "Masao Kume Memorial Hall".

Culture Park. The landmark of Koriyama Culture Park is the Ferris wheel. This park provides pools, gymnasiums and an amusement park with which any visitor from children to an adults can enjoy. Particularly popular during summer.

Koriyama City Museum of Art. This museum is situated in Fudokigaoka where you can see the whole view from Koriyama City to Mt. Adatara. It houses English Art, modern Japanese Art, Junshiro Sato's art, art related to Koriyama and art of books.

Kaiseikan Hall Kaiseikan is a large building close to the ALTs. It used to be the emperor's holiday home and is now open to the public for a small entry fee. Also in the same area you can find the Asaka Cultivation Official Residence, the former residence of Tateiwa, and Asaka Cultivation Pioneer’s House, which is now a small tool museum and was the former residence of Koyama and Tsubouchi

Other things to do:

To the Northwest, the Bandai-atami hot springs, Choshigataki waterfalls, and Bonari green line are the highlight of mountain scenery and outdoor activity. The Bandai Atami hot springs are famous throughout Japan for their supposedly healing properties. Also at Bandai Atami, there are ice skating rinks during winter. Lake Inawashiro lies to the Northwest, and is the 4th largest lake in Japan. In the winter, Inawashiro sits at the foot of many of Fukushima's numerous ski resorts, providing a spectacular view.

Shopping:

The Koriyama station area has 3 major department stores with all of the mall-like features you would expect. A two minute walk along the main road from the station will take you to Usui, which is a massive department store where one can find all of the top designer brands as well as more moderate designers on the ensuing floors. The building is huge, and its street is often referred to as "Usui-dori." On the south side of the station there is a ATI building. The B1 and first 3 stories are Yodobashi Camera, which is an electronics store. The other stories have many other stores, including an Animate (Anime goods store), a game centre, a 100 yen store, a Tower Record, a musical instrument store, plus many more. On the top floor, there is even a karaoke place. Also, K's Denki, another electronic store, and Supersports Xebio, are about a 15 minute bus ride away from the station on Uneme dori. The MALL is a shopping mall along Shin-Sakura dori that has many stores as well. Koriyama eki-mae has numerous small boutiques, used clothing and vintage stores, as well as things you would expect like Lush, Starbucks, and GAP. On the East side of the station lies Aeon town, which features a Sports Authority, an ABC Mart (shoe superstore), Toys R Us, plus many more stores. As far as being a consumer goes, there is little that one can not find in Koriyama.

Plus there are many more things to see and do in Koriyama. It is a large city, so there is much to find. The best way to see everything is to go out and do!

Resources and Links
Hyperdia-- Search for Train Times/Schedules/Prices -City Website -English Tourism Site