WHITE & PINK

October 2012 saw completion of the preservation and restoration work on the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building. The red brick facade long loved as the symbol of Tokyo Station has made a comeback, along with the history and grandeur of the original building dating nearly a hundred years back. The occasion also saw the reopening of Tokyo Station Hotel and Tokyo Station Gallery. The former is the hotel situated within an important cultural property of Japan. The interior is designed in a sophisticated, classical European style to blend with the splendor of the Marunouchi Building exterior.

Koriyama Station is a terminal station where various railway lines converge, including the Tohoku Shinkansen, Tohoku Honsen, Banetsu Saisen, Banetsu Tosen, and Suigunsen.
Inside the station building is an integrated commercial facility known as S-PAL, while outside the station is a facility, Big-i, where there is an observation lobby and a science museum called SPACEPARK.

As the ski resorts of Urabandai are located at a high altitude, they remain open until the beginning of May. In addition to serious skiing and snowboarding areas, since the resort also has gentle slopes for sledding and playing in the snow aimed at families and beginners, there are areas where everyone can enjoy the snow. Grandeco Snow Resort is one of the few ski resorts in Japan that offers a 3,500m beginner's course. Full sets of gear can be rented at the resort, so there is no need to worry.

The Goshiki Onsen hot spring has its source at the Urabandai Royal Hotel, making it an appropriate place to warm the body after playing in the snow. A close walk from the hotel, a group of lakes and marshes known collectively as "Goshiki-numa" are a major tourist spot of Urabandai with many small and large marshes glowing emerald green and cobalt blue colors. In winter, visitors can walk this area wearing snowshoes, and in other seasons, they can enjoy the scenery while walking amidst fresh green leaves and autumn foliage.

Kitakata ramen is one of the three great ramens of Japan. It is characterized by a rich soup, which is made with Kitakata soy sauce that is made from the nutrient-rich underground waters flowing from the Iide mountain range, as well as thick curly noodles. There are about 120 Kitakata ramen stores in the city, each providing their own original flavors. Intimate with ramen culture, people in Kitakata even have ramen for breakfast, called "asa-ra," or "morning ramen." Be sure to try the authentic ramen flavors at famous stores known nationwide.

The Nichu-sen is a railway that used to connect Kitakata Station and Atsushio Station. In 1984, after the line was abolished, it was refurbished as a pedestrian walkway and cycling road. One-thousand weeping cherry trees were planted along roughly 3km of the road. Many people visit in late April, the best time to see the magnificent rows of cherry blossoms. A steam locomotive is displayed in the middle of the pedestrian walkway and is a popular photo-taking spot.

This store carries Aizu lacquerware and original folk crafts that have been passed down since ancient times as the industry of the region. Customers can also experience makie, which is the art of painting on lacquerware. Makie can also be painted on such objects as wind chimes and fans. At the 2nd floor "Kirinoko Ningyokan" doll house, dolls made from the leftover powder of paulownia wood used for lacquerware-making are on display. The playful expressions of the dolls fill visitors with a sense of fun. There is also a café, "Nuri-no-Sato," nearby that serves coffee and cakes with lacquered tableware, as well as a popular bean sweets shop, "Okuya," which sells royal peanut soft serve ice cream.