Iwaki: It’s Always Fun Under the Sun
The sun’s almost always up in Iwaki, Japan a regional city surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In fact, locals call it "Sunshine Iwaki" since it is one of the most temperate cities in the country. Formed in 1966 through the merger of 14 smaller towns, it was a coal mining community in the past but is now a tourism hub. Its other cores of economy are industrial production and agriculture. Iwaki is about two hours from Tokyo.
Best Time to Visit
The months of June to September are ideal time to visit Iwaki. Being a sun vacation spot, the weather is pleasantly warm during this period. Every year the Taira Tanabata Festival takes place from August 6 to 8 and attracts tourists from all over. The shopping district is decked with brightly colored bamboo decorations and a plethora of events like traditional dance, a yukata (summer kimono) festival and various performances are presented. It may be a bit difficult to find cheaper Iwaki hotel rates during this time so you need to plan ahead if you wish to experience the festival.
What to Do & Area Attractions
The buzz of the city center is not too far from the Grand Park Hotel Panex Iwaki while the Hawaiians Monolith Towers is only .07 miles from Spa Resort Hawaiians, an amusement complex with a large waterpark, waterslides and the world's largest outdoor hot spring. Alternative accommodations close downtown include the Iwaki Washington Hotel and the Hotel Live Max Yumoto. Other top-drawer destinations are Misaki Park featuring a marine tower and an observation deck for a bird’s-eye view of the coastline. And definitely not to miss is a day at Toyoma Beach or Usuiso Beach.