Aizuwakamatsu

The area of present-day Aizuwakamatsu was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and was settled from prehistoric times.

The Aizu-Otsuka Kofun within the city borders dates from the 4th century AD, and is an Important Cultural Property.

Soon after taking power, Yoritomo granted a samurai named Suwara Yoshitsura (from the Miura clan) all of Aizu.

Toyotomi gave Aizu to one of his allies, Gamo Ujisato who then began construction in 1592 of a new castle at the site.

[3] After the Meiji Restoration, Wakamatsu Town was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

The name of the city was changed to Aizuwakamatsu on January 1, 1955 when Wakamatsu merged with seven villages of Kitaaizu District (Kouya, Kouzashi, Monden, Ikki, Higashiyama, Ōto and Minato).

A part of the town of Hongō (locality of Oya) (from Ōnuma District) was merged into Aizuwakamatsu on April 1, 1955.

[4] Fukushima Prefecture Aizuwakamatsu has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) closely bordering on Humid Subtropical Climate (Köppen Cfa) with the January average just below the 0°C isotherm to be classified as the latter, characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

Although it is located in an inland valley, Aizuwakamatsu's climate resembles that of the Hokuriku region on the Sea of Japan coast.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Fukushima Electoral District 4 for the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Higashiyama Onsen
Aizuwakamatsu Castle after the Battle of Aizu , 1868 photograph.
Mount Iimori
The city skyline seen from Aizuwakamatsu Castle, 2017
Aizuwakamatsu City Hall
Classic Town Bus "Haikara-san"
Aizu Samurai Residences
Sauce Katsu-don