About Ikata

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Host Family Guide →日本語
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Introduction | Preparation | Homestay | About Ikata | Conversational Japanese


Ikata(伊方町 Ikata-chō) is a rural town of just under 12,000 located in Ehime, Japan. It spans the largest peninsula in the country, which is very mountainous. This combination of mountains surrounded by ocean gives Ikata a uniquely beautiful, rugged terrain.

Ikata's claims to fame are its nuclear power plant and its mandarin oranges. These two, along with fishing and wind power, make up the majority of Ikata's industry.

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International exchange

Relations with Ikata's only international sister city, Red Wing, USA, originally began as an exchange of technical knowledge and skills between engineers at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant and Red Wing's Prairie Island plant. The two towns became official sister cities in 1995.

Since then, Ikata has put much effort into expanding the horizons of its residents through English language education via the JET Programme, and an annual international student exchange with Red Wing. Beginning in 1995, Ikata middle school students have traveled almost yearly to Red Wing for home stays of one to two weeks, and students from Red Wing likewise come to Ikata to learn about life in rural Japan.

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Sister cities

Ikata has two sister cities, both of which also have nuclear power plants:

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Points of interest

When visiting Ikata, you may get a chance to see these sights:

  • Sadamisaki Lighthouse — This lighthouse stands at the tip of the peninsula, overlooking the Hōyo Strait. On clear days you can see across to Kyūshū. 1.8 km of hiking trails and a campground lay at its feet.
  • Seto Wind Hill Park — This park is located atop a mountain in the Seto area. From it you can see many of Ikata's numerous windmills, spinning above the Inland Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Haikus about the windmills, submitted for Ikata's Windmill Festival, are on display in the park. See webcam images from the park, updated every hour.
  • Ikata Visitors Center — This hands-on science museum teaches all about nuclear power with beautiful interactive displays and fun activities for all ages. The building is connected to the Kirara-kan, which houses an aquarium and sells souvenirs and local agricultural products.
  • Red Wing Park — Named after Ikata's sister city, this park is home to Adventure Hill—a playground full of climbing nets, roller slides, and other exciting children's play equipment.
  • Kamegaike Onsen — A new hot spring bathing facility and park are currently under construction and will be open to the public in July 2007. According to legend, a giant crab lives in the adjacent Kamegaike Pond.
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Festivals and events

Ikata has a wide variety of festivals and attractions year-round. The IIEA homestays are scheduled to coincide with the August Kinahaiya Ikata Festival(きなはいや伊方まつり Kinahaiya Ikata-matsuri), Ikata's largest annual event. Attractions include film and dance competitions, a taiko performance, children's sumo, and bare-handed fish catching, all concluded with a fantastic fireworks display in the evening.

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Additional information


Host Family Guide →日本語
Table of contents
Introduction | Preparation | Homestay | About Ikata | Conversational Japanese
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