Inagi City

Introduction of Friendship City Soma City (Fukushima Prefecture)

Last updated: January 31, 2024

Be strong. Towards a Soma City that we can be proud of by creating communities and lifestyles together.

Image Soma City Hall

Soma City is located at the northeastern tip of Fukushima Prefecture, and is the transportation and cultural center of the northern coast of the prefecture, with Fukushima City 57 kilometers west of the city center, Tokyo 300 kilometers south, and Sendai 53 kilometers north. .

The population is 33,391 (as of October 2020) and the area is 197.79 square kilometers.

Overview of Soma City

Soma's new specialty Fukutora

Soma's new specialty Fukutora

High-quality natural tiger blowfish landed off the coast of Soso.
It is a high-quality fish that is popular in western Japan, but in recent years, as the amount of catches in the Soso area has increased, it has become a serious catch.
Natural tiger puffer fish from Fukushima have seen a significant increase in catches off the coast of Soma in recent years, and are attracting attention as a new specialty.
Tiger puffers that meet certain conditions, such as being over 35 centimeters in size and caught by longline fishing, are named ``Fukutora.''
Why not visit Soma City, our friendship city, in search of a new taste of winter?
When staying in Soma City, please take advantage of Inagi City's contracted inn use subsidy system.

Hama Station Matsukawaura

Hama no Eki Matsukawaura (Soma Reconstruction Citizens' Market) is aimed at promoting local industry in the coastal areas of Soma City, which suffered extensive damage from the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as dispelling rumors caused by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and promoting local production for local consumption. It was established as a base to promote the following.
Additionally, Matsukawaura is the only lagoon in Fukushima Prefecture and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Scenic Spots.

Image inside the store

Image Hama no Eki Matsukawaura

Image Matsukawaura

Tradition Requiem Hall

To commemorate the victims of the earthquake and serve as a source of emotional support for their bereaved families, we will convey to future generations the pre-earthquake landscapes of Obama, Haragama and Isobe districts, which were affected by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and encourage interaction among visitors. It was built for the purpose of serving as a venue, and exhibits photographs of the landscape and local events before the earthquake, as well as video records from the day of the earthquake.

Image Soma City Tradition Requiem Hall

Obama Children's Park

In the Obama area, which suffered devastating damage from the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Obama Children's Park was established as a symbol of recovery.
It is used as a place for multi-generational community, based on the development concept developed by the citizens: ``a place of relaxation where children can play and people can gather and interact.''

Image Obama Children's Park

Image Obama Children's Park

Soma Nomaoi

The Soma Nomaoi, an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, boasts a history of more than 1,000 years. Starting with the commander-in-chief departure ceremony at the ruins of Nakamura Castle, about 500 cavalrymen unfold a picture scroll from the Sengoku period. It is a traditional event.

Image Nomaoi

Exchange with Soma City

After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, we have continued to interact with each other, such as concluding a mutual support agreement in June of the same year, taking advantage of our relief assistance to Soma City.
After that, a friendship city agreement was concluded on August 18, 2015, with the aim of promoting exchanges between citizens during normal times, not just during disasters, and for the development of each other's regions.

Image Agreement concluded

Inquiries about this page

Inagi City, Industry, Culture and Sports Department, Citizen Collaboration Division Phone: 042-378-2111