city, Fukushima ken (prefecture), Honshu, Japan, located at the junction of the Tohoku Line and the Ban-etsu Line (railways), north-northeast of Tokyo. It developed as an industrial and communications centre, producing textiles, chemicals, and machinery. Power is generated with coal from the nearby Jōban coalfield and by hydroelectric plants on the Nippashi-gawa (Nippashi River). Surrounding mountain ranges and the Inawashiro-ko (Lake Inawashiro) are included in Bandai-Asahi National Park. Pop. (2005) 338,834.