■Numajiri Keiben Tetsudo (Light railway)
Is it because we live in an age when speed, efficiency and practicality are valued, that we miss leisureliness of the old days? Walk along the abandoned railway tracks is becoming a quiet boom lately. Look up ‘discontinued railroad line’ on the internet, and you will be surprised to find more than 100 web sites run by those sharing the common interest. Many of the railway lines enjoyed glorious openings in Meiji Era, got through series of difficulties such as wars and disasters, and finally terminated their years of service, giving way to motorcars. It must be the history and memories of them that fascinate us.
Numajiri Light Railway ran 15.6km between Kawageta Station on Ban-etsu Saisen Line and Numajiri, where there was a sulfur mine in a valley of Mt. Adatara. The railroad was originally laid for the purpose of transporting sulfur products. At first, it opened as a horse tramway and was soon replaced by a steam locomotive. Later in Showa Era, a gasoline car took its place and had been in operation until a diesel locomotive was introduced after the war. As the demand for sulfur for gun powder diminished after the war, and oil refining enabled the yield of large amounts of sulfur as by-product, the mine and the light railroad were brought to an end in 1969.
During its operation, the light railway carried not only sulfur products but many tourists for Nakanosawa and Numajiri Hot Spas. The then hit song ‘Kogen Ressha-wa Yuku’ (Highland Train Goes Running) was modeled after this light railway. The locomotive and the passenger car from those days are exhibited at Midori-no Mura Park.

◆Walk along the former Numajiri Keiben Railroad.
Why don’t you walk 15 kilometers along the former railway track to enjoy the nature and the atmosphere of the old days. (Inquire at Inawashiro Association of Commerce and Industry
Phone 0242-62-2331)

■Listel Park
Listel Inawashiro is the biggest resort hotel in Fukushima-Ken. Located at the foot of Mt. Kawageta, on the east of Inawashiro, it accommodates 2,000 guests with 662 rooms in the complex including an 18-story Wing Tower. The resort has ski slopes, camp grounds, a herb garden, tennis courts, and patter golf courses. The resort itself makes a small town in high seasons. The main building has Japanese-style rooms, and the new Wing Tower, mostly twin rooms. In the Wing Tower, there is a Kurhaus consisting of a heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and hot spring with 8 different medicinal waters.

■Inawashiro Herb Garden
Herbs have a history of 5,000 years. They traveled to Europe via Greece and Rome, and have long since lowered their roots being used for various purposes - medicine, cosmetics, perfume, tea, spice and craft material. With the scent that alleviates physical and mental disorder and an effect on health and beauty, herbs are of growing interest in this stressful time.
Of thousands of kinds, the ones that suit the climate and the soil here are grown and studied in Inawashiro Herb Garden. Adjacent to the garden, there is a cosmos field mage and a farm with wooden sculptures of animals that appear in the Oriental zodiac.

■Gate of Kannonji Temple
(Important Cultural Asset of the town)
The gate having a half-hopped roof with Tang-style gables is thought to be a building of early Edo Era although details are not known due to the loss of documents in the 1887 fire. Especially, the embossed carving of wooden panels and the carving on the pillars shows Momoyama Era style of architecture.

■Kannonji River
The river flows from the north of Kannonji Temple, l kilometer east of JR Kawageta Station (on Ban-etsu Saisen Line) through the district which is named after the temple. The banks are lined with cherry trees forming an arch over the river, under which visitors can walk in spring. Of several cherry blossom spots in Inawashiro, this is one of the most popular.

■Tomb of Taira-no Moritane
(Historic Site designated by the town)
The tomb of the last lord of Kamegajo Castle, Taira-no Moritane, the 14th generation of Inawashiro’s. He was severely wounded in the Suriagehara Battle, and died at the age of 77. His grave has been well maintained by the villagers who took the job for the year in turns.

■Karakasa-Matsu at Sirozu
(Umbrella-shaped pine tree) (Natural Monument designated by the town)
The umbrella-shaped pine is about 450 years old and 23 meters high. There is a stone shrine dedicated to Sanpo Aragami at the foot of the tree. The tree is registered as cultural property of Fukushima-Ken.