Article

07209 ／そうまし

Soma City

One drawing, many carvings: a 1695 hall.

Hachiman Shrine, main hall

Photo by Bachstelze (CC BY-SA 3.0)

01 ／ Castle site and shrine

On the site of Nakamura Castle, seat of the Soma lords,a shrine complex from 1643 (Kanei 20) stands.

Nakamura Castle was built in 1611 (Keicho 16) with enclosures, moats and earthworks as the seat of successive Soma lords; the site is a prefectural historic site. The buildings of Soma Nakamura Shrine on the castle grounds date from 1643 and are a gongen-zukuri complex and a national Important Cultural Property.

Nakamura Castle built in 1611 (Keicho 16)
Nakamura Castle site: prefectural historic site
Shrine buildings of 1643 (Kanei 20): national Important Cultural Property

02 ／ Goshiho

In 1845 (Koka 2), Nakamura Domain introducedthe "Goshiho" to set its villages back on their feet.

Based on the teachings of Ninomiya Sontoku, the domain's village-reform method was called Goshiho in Soma. Villagers voted to honor hard workers, who received money and farm tools, and embankments and channels were built and repaired. It was carried out in 101 villages, and completed in 55 of them.

Introduced in 1845 (Koka 2)
Carried out in 101 of the domain's 226 villages
Completed in 55 of them

03 ／ Climbing kiln

The climbing kiln of the Nakamura Domain's official potteryis thought to date to no later than the Genroku era.

Tashiro Komayaki is said to have been opened at its present site in the Keian era (1648–1652) as the official kiln of the Soma Nakamura Domain. The climbing kiln is a prefectural Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property; the city restored it after receiving it from the Tashiro family, and has opened it to the public since 2018.

Said to have opened in the Keian era (1648–1652)
Prefectural Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property
Restored by the city; open to the public since 2018

Soma City from the sky

Now and 1974–78. Tap a photo to zoom in.

Now1974–78

Wide (about 6 km across)

Close (about 1.5 km across)

Now (shot April 2018)Shot 1974–78

Source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) GSI Tiles（全国最新写真（シームレス）／国土画像情報（第一期：1974〜1978年撮影））

Open in GSI Maps (now)Open in GSI Maps (1974–78)

Living here

Tokyo in 3 h 43 min by limited express Hitachi.

about 30,000 people

The limited express Hitachi reaches Soma Station on the JR Joban Line in 223 minutes from Tokyo Station and 216 minutes from Ueno Station, with no change (fastest daily service). The city hall is about 1.1 km from Soma Station.

People living here: 34,865people
Area: 197.79km²
Households: 13,875households
Rent (average for rentals): 42,670yen
Healthcare: 2 hospitals ／ 23 clinics

Area and habitable land at the same scalee-Stat B1101 / B1103

Children waiting for childcare: —2 nurseries and similar
Home purchase subsidy: —
Average annual temperature: —

These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.

ACCESS

Where you can go from here.

Soma City in Japan37.797°N 140.920°E

to TokyoLtd. exp. Hitachi223min
to UenoLtd. exp. Hitachi216min

Travel times follow JR東日本の駅の時刻表（2611版）の東京駅 tt1039 と上野駅 tt0204 の常磐線の列車ページから、都市の発→相馬駅の着を列車ごとに数えた。東京発：ひたち13号 12:53→16:36＝223分（定期・運転日の注記なし）、ひたち21号 16:53→20:42＝229分、ひたち3号 07:52→11:47＝235分（平日運転ページと土曜・休日運転ページの両方に同じ時刻で載る）。上野発：ひたち13号 13:00→16:36＝216分、21号 17:00→20:42＝222分、3号 08:00→11:47＝227分。下りで相馬駅に停まる乗り換えなしの定期便は3本／日。毎日運転の最速は東京223分・上野216分で、平日と土休日で同じ (checked 2026-10-28). They vary by time of day.

Shape

Borders 5 municipalities across 1 prefectures.

Territory of Soma City

Boundaries: National Land Numerical Information (Administrative Area Data), MLIT. Processed by Machigatari.Lakes: National Land Numerical Information (Lake Data), MLIT. Processed by Machigatari. Prepared with the approval of the Director-General of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, using its Digital Map 25000 (Spatial Data Framework) and Digital Map 25000 (Place Names and Public Facilities). (承認番号平27情使、第585号)

North to south

13.7km

Fukushima Prefecture: Minamisoma City, Iitate Village, Date City, Shinchi Town
Miyagi Prefecture: Marumori Town

Soma City isthis kind of town.

01The main hall, offering hall and worship hall of Hachiman Shrine (Tsuboda, Soma) form a shrine complex built by the Soma family in Genroku 8 (1695); the main hall makes extensive use of carvings from the same underdrawing and is a national Important Cultural Property
02The Nakamura Castle site is the site of the Soma lords' seat built in 1611 (Keicho 16) and is a prefectural historic site; the buildings of Soma Nakamura Shrine on the castle grounds, built in 1643 (Kanei 20), are a national Important Cultural Property, and the city names the shrine as the setting of the departure ceremony of the Soma Nomaoi
03Nakamura Domain introduced the Goshiho, based on the teachings of Ninomiya Sontoku, in 1845 (Koka 2), and the city's Tashiro Komayaki climbing kiln, the official kiln of the Soma Nakamura Domain, is a prefectural Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property

If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.

Soma City official site ↗Wikipedia ↗

From this town's themes