Located in Miharu town, in the central area of Fukushima prefecture, the Centre for Environmental Creation Communication Building Commutan Fukushima (コミュタン福島) provides an in-depth look at Fukushima’s environmental initiatives following the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster of 2011.
Commutan Fukushima hosts exhibitions about Fukushima’s current environmental situation and displays general information about the environment and radiation, as well as explanations about changes in radiation levels in the prefecture.
Children are welcome to visit the center to deepen their knowledge of environmental science. There are hands-on exhibits, an interactive globe, and a 360° theater, among other attractions.
Commutan Fukushima has six main areas:
Non-Japanese-speaking visitors can scan the QR code located next to each exhibition to access English, Chinese, and Korean translations. Tablets can be borrowed at the front desk. Facility tours are also available in English.
Commutan Fukushima sometimes hosts special events and activities. For updates, visit their website.
| Website | https://www.com-fukushima.jp/en/index.html |
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| Contact | Contact form: https://www.com-fukushima.jp/en/infomation/contact.html |
| Best Season | All Year |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed: Mondays (except when a National holiday falls on a Monday, in which case, the facility is open on that day and closed during the following weekday) and year-end holidays (December 29-January 3). |
| Access | 10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu Town, Tamura-gun, Fukshima Prefecture View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 3 hours 16 min. from Tokyo on the Joban Expressway, or 30 min. from Koriyama Sta. By Public Transportation: 2 hours and 10 min from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen, JR train, and Miharu-cho town bus. From Tokyo Sta., take the Tohoku Shinkansen or the Yamagata Shinkansen and get off at Koriyama Sta. [郡山駅] (approx. 1 h 20 min.). At Koriyama, transfer to a JR Ban-Etsu East Line train bound for Iwaki and get off at Miharu Sta. (13 min., 2 stops). Take the Miharu-cho town bus from Miharu Station (the bus runs every day except for end-of-year holidays). Miharu-cho town bus timetable (as of June 2023):
The bus fare is free for visitors to Commutan Fukushima (communication hall) of the Centre for Environmental Creation for the round trip. *You can receive a free bus ticket at the reception desk of Commutan Fukushima for the return trip. However, please note that the free bus ticket is valid only once. Once you get off the bus, you cannot use the same ticket again. Only times that are within Commutan’s business hours are indicated above. See the timetable in Japanese. |
A rural landing field located 10 km Northwest of central Fukushima City. Starting with the Azuma Mountain range, the beautiful mountain vistas surrounding this massive location will leave you mesmerized. In addition to aircraft take-off and landing practice, it is possible to use the Fukushima Sky Park for various events. It is widely used for music events, automobile and motorcycle test drives, and a test venue for public organizations.
Ebisu Circuit – revered as a drift racing paradise – is visited every year by lots of international visitors. Ebisu Circuit’s ‘Drift Taxi’ experience lets you ride as a passenger in a special drifting car while a professional Drift School Teacher speeds around the circuit! Booking and more information here.
The only Japan Racing Association racecourse in the Tohoku region. Enjoy the excitement of the seasonal races held during Spring, Summer and Winter, as well as the traditional Tanabata Prize in July. The racecourse also has other areas for enjoying yourself, including a children's play area and athletic facilities, making it a great place to come with the family.
There are records of Shirakawa Daruma (Japanese traditional dolls) being sold as far back as the feudal reign of the Niwa Domain in 1627. Current Shirakawa Daruma are known as “Shirakawa Tsurugame Shochikubai Daruma.” The faces of these dolls are painted to incorporate various animals and plants, with the eyebrows representing cranes, the mustache representing a turtle, the ears representing pines and plum trees, and the beard representing bamboo or pine trees. All of these images are thought to bring good luck. The daruma is known to be a very classical, lucky talisman, started by Matsudaira Sadanobu, the lord of Shirakawa, when he hired the renowned painter Tani Buncho to paint the now famous face on the daruma doll. Once every year a large Shirakawa Daruma Market is held to celebrate and sell the beloved daruma dolls. You can paint your own daruma at the two daruma workshops in town!