Introduction of Friendship City Soma City (Fukushima Prefecture)

Strongly. Together, we create the community and life, fostering pride in Soma City.

Soma City is located at the northeastern edge of Fukushima Prefecture, 57 kilometers west of Fukushima City, 300 kilometers south of Tokyo, and 53 kilometers north of Sendai, making it a center of coastal transportation and culture in the northern part of the prefecture.

The population is 33,391 (as of October 2023), and the area is 197.79 square kilometers.

Overview of Soma City

• Soma City Website（External Link）
• Soma City Tourism Association Website（External Link）
• Soma City (Google Maps)(External Link)

• City Flower [Spring] Cherry Blossom [Summer] Hamanasu [Autumn] Bellflower [Winter] Sazanka
• City Tree: Black Pine
• City Bird: Bush Warbler

Soma's New Specialty: Fukutora

High-quality natural tiger pufferfish caught off the coast of Souma and Natori.
It is a high-end fish that is widely loved in western Japan, but in recent years, due to the increase in catch volume in the Sou-sou region, it has been transformed into a full-scale catch.
Natural tiger pufferfish from Fukushima has seen a significant increase in catch volume off the coast of Soma in recent years, gaining attention as a new local specialty.
The tiger pufferfish that meets certain conditions, such as being over 35 centimeters in size and caught using a seine net, is named "Fuku Tora".
How about visiting our Friendship City, Soma City, in search of new winter flavors?
When staying in Soma City, please make sure to take advantage of the Inagi City contracted inn usage subsidy program.

• Inagi City Contract Inn Utilization Subsidy System (Accommodation fees for Sister Cities and Friendship Cities will be subsidized)

Hamano Station Matsukawaura

Hamano Eki Matsukawau (Soma City Reconstruction Citizen Market) was established as a base for promoting local industry in the coastal area of Soma City, which suffered extensive damage from the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as for dispelling rumors caused by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and promoting local production for local consumption.
In addition, Matsukawaura is the only lagoon in Fukushima Prefecture and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Scenic Views.

• Hamano Station Matsukawaura Website(External Link)

Memorial Hall for Traditional Spirits

This was built to commemorate the victims of the earthquake and to serve as a source of comfort for the bereaved families, to convey the pre-disaster scenery of the Ohama and Harakama areas, as well as the Isobe area, which were affected by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, to future generations, and to create a place for interaction among visitors. It features exhibitions of photographs of the pre-disaster scenery and local events, as well as video recordings from the day of the disaster.

Obama Children's Park

The "Obama Children's Park" has been developed in the Obama area, which suffered devastating damage from the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, as a symbol of recovery.
Based on the development concept examined by the citizens, which is a "place of relaxation where children can play and people can gather and interact," it is used as a community space for multiple generations.

Soma Nomaoi

The Soma Nomaoi, a national important intangible folk cultural asset, boasts a history of over a thousand years. It is a traditional event that begins with the commander-in-chief's departure ceremony at the historical site of Nakamura Castle ruins, where about 500 mounted warriors unfold a picture scroll of the Sengoku period.

Exchange with Soma City

After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, we continued to foster exchanges, starting with relief support to Soma City, and in June of the same year, we concluded a mutual assistance agreement for disaster response and other situations.
Subsequently, not only during disasters but also in normal times, the aim is for citizens to interact and promote the development of each other's regions, and on August 18, 2015, a Friendship City agreement was concluded.