Discover Sukagawa: Lake, Peonies and Culture

For a trip centered on Sukagawa, there are plenty of themes to explore, from lakes and garden landscapes to history, special effects and activities for children. Each experience offers a different emphasis: a walk by the water is different from exploring peonies or a tradition dating back to the Sengoku period.

Lakeside Trails and Peonies

At Fujinuma-ko Nature Park, the lake covers 20 hectares. A maintained, five-kilometer walking trail runs around the lake. This is not just a short stretch along the shore, but a circular route around the lake. Those who enjoy walking can make the lake a clear nature-focused part of their travel plans; the stated length describes the route, not a particular walking time.

The free site at Fujinuma Lake Nature Park has camping and barbecue facilities. Guests choose their own spot on arrival. Alongside the walk, visitors can also enjoy the outdoors by staying overnight or sharing a barbecue. The circular trail and the free site appeal to different interests: one offers a route by the lake, while the other lets visitors shape their own outdoor stay.

The Sukagawa Peony Garden offers a different perspective on nature. It features 290 varieties and 7,000 established peony plants that bloom throughout the year. It is also the only peony garden in Japan registered as a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. The figures give a sense of the collection’s diversity, while the designation further distinguishes the garden as a special landscape. The lake and its circular trail thus offer a contrast to a collection whose appeal lies in its variety of peonies.

Tradition and Special Effects

The traditional event Taimatsu Akashi commemorates a tragic fate from the Sengoku period more than 430 years ago. Its theme connects a contemporary cultural experience with a history reaching far back in time. For travelers interested in learning about not only the landscape but also a long-held tradition of remembrance, it offers a different perspective from the nature experiences.

The Special Effects Archive Center displays materials related to special effects and Eiji Tsuburaya, who was from Sukagawa City. Films and miniature sets bring special-effects culture to life through images and models. The tette center also focuses on Eiji Tsuburaya and special effects: this civic center includes a related exhibition, as well as a children’s play area, a library and community spaces. The two places have different emphases—one on materials, films and miniature sets, the other on an exhibition combined with spaces for meeting and spending time.

Get Involved and Plan Your Stay

At Mushitech World, children and adults can explore insects and natural science through crafts, experiments and exhibitions. This hands-on discovery complements the more observational experiences at the Peony Garden and the Special Effects Archive Center. For families with diverse interests, this range makes it easier to plan days around more than one theme: nature, cultural history, special effects and hands-on science each offer a different reason to visit.

The Ohayō Aozora Market, established in 1978, is a regular Sunday morning market. Check the latest dates before visiting. This lets you plan a possible market visit as a separate activity, rather than treating it as the same kind of experience as the peonies that bloom throughout the year or a trip to the lake.

When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: walking trails and the lake, plant diversity, cultural history or hands-on activities? Nature, cultural history, special effects and hands-on science for children each bring a different emphasis to a trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Furudono, Kōriyama, Date, Nihonmatsu, Iwaki, Aizumisato, Yama District, Oguta

For the full travel overview: Fukushima Prefecture.