japan-guide.com visited Iwaki earlier this year in March, just a few weeks after the full re-opening of the Spa Resort Hawaiians, the city's main tourist attraction. Half a year later, I returned to southeastern Fukushima Prefecture to check out more tourist spots in Iwaki and surroundings. Below are some impressions from that visit:
The Shiramizu Amidado Hall is the only designated national treasure in Fukushima Prefecture
It is noted for one of the best surviving Pure Land Gardens
Lotus flowers in the pond in front of the Amidado Hall
The Amidado was reopened in July 2012 after suffering damage in the 2011 earthquake
Lunch at Onahama Port
Lunch at Onahama Port
The coastal area around the Shioyasaki Lighthouse was hit by the 2011 tsunami
The lighthouse remains closed to tourists, but is scheduled to reopen by spring 2013
Spa Resort Hawaiians and the new Monolith Tower hotel
Checking into the Monolith Tower
Our room at the Monolith Tower
The resort reopened fully in February 2012 after suffering damage in the 2011 earthquake
Spa Resort Hawaiians
The next day we visited the Rokkakudo (Hexagon Hall) just across the prefectural border in northern Ibaraki
The Rokkakudo was built roughly a century ago as a refuge for artistic activities by Japanese painter Tenshin
The Rokkakudo was destroyed by the 2011 tsunami, but meticulously rebuilt and reopened recently
