Soma (相馬)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Cherry blossoms peak around April, while mild weather supports castle walks, coastal trails, and seasonal farm visits.
• summer: Soma Nomaoi brings major traditional horse events, while warm weather suits beaches, lagoon recreation, and seafood-focused visits.
• autumn: Autumn foliage enhances castle and coastal scenery, while pears and other seasonal produce are especially appealing.

What's There

• architecture: Historic castle ruins and an important shrine preserve distinctive samurai-era architectural heritage.
• beach: Matsukawaura and the Pacific coastline offer beach scenery, coastal recreation, and seaside views.
• castle: Nakamura Castle Ruins preserve the former administrative center of the Soma domain.
• cherry blossoms: Hundreds of cherry trees bloom at Nakamura Castle Ruins in April.
• coast: Soma combines Pacific shoreline scenery, coastal trails, lagoons, and marine culture.
• culture: Soma’s samurai heritage, shrine traditions, historic sites, and local products create a strong cultural experience.
• farm: Rice, pears, and strawberries are prominent agricultural products, with farms and local produce outlets supporting food tourism.
• festival: Soma Nomaoi presents historic mounted warriors, horse racing, flag battles, and related ceremonies.
• fishing: Offshore fishing grounds and local fisheries support Soma’s seafood culture and marine-product traditions.
• food: Regional specialties include seafood, beef, rice, seaweed, pears, strawberries, and processed local products.
• hiking: The Michinoku Coastal Trail and castle-area walking paths support coastal and heritage walks.
• history: The city preserves centuries of Soma-domain history and a horse festival tradition exceeding one thousand years.
• lake: Matsukawaura is a scenic coastal lagoon associated with nature, recreation, seafood, and seaweed cultivation.
• market: Hamanoeki Matsukawaura sells local seafood, agricultural products, marine goods, and regional souvenirs.
• nature: Matsukawaura’s lagoon, coastal park, shoreline, and seasonal landscapes provide varied natural scenery.
• park: Baryo Park surrounds the castle ruins with walking paths, seasonal flowers, and autumn foliage.
• seafood: Locally valued flounder, halibut, clams, crab, shirasu, and processed marine products are major specialties.
• shrine: Soma Nakamura Shrine is a historic clan shrine and the departure point for Nomaoi ceremonies.
• shopping: The reconstruction market offers seafood, agricultural goods, specialty foods, and regional souvenirs.
• views: The lagoon, coast, natural park, and trail provide scenic water and shoreline views.

Specialties

• Soma Seafood (相馬の水産物): Soma’s offshore fishing grounds produce locally valued seafood including flounder, halibut, surf clam, asari clams, snow crab, and shirasu. The city identifies seafood and processed marine products as major local specialties.
• Matsukawaura Aosa Nori (松川浦名産あおさのり): Matsukawaura is known for aosa seaweed, also called hitoegusa, which is used in dried seaweed, tsukudani, noodles, sweets, and other products. Local aosa products are sold through the Hamanoeki Matsukawaura market.
• Soma Beef (相馬牛): Soma Beef is a locally promoted A5-grade Japanese black beef specialty. The city lists it among Soma’s notable foods alongside seafood, rice, soy sauce, fruit, and confectionery.
• Soma Rice (相馬市の米): Rice is one of Soma’s principal agricultural products, including Fukushima’s original Amanotsubu variety. The city describes Amanotsubu as a high-yielding, lodging-resistant rice cultivar grown in Soma’s flatlands.
• Soma Pears and Strawberries (相馬市の梨・イチゴ): Pears and strawberries are established agricultural specialties of Soma. The city specifically lists several pear varieties and strawberries among its local produce.