[Fukushima Prefecture] If you want to meet aliens, go to Fukushima! ? Iino Town's specialty is UFO. 　

Have you ever seen a UFO? I have only seen one. But I have yet to encounter an alien. So I visited Iino Town in Fukushima City (formerly Iino Town, Date County).
Iino, known as the home of UFOs, the "UFO Interaction Center ." The fact that it's not a museum, archive, or memorial center, but rather a "interaction center," is intriguing.

Let us introduce you to the UFO Fureaikan, a must-visit for anyone interested in UFOs, as well as foodies (we'll explain why later!)

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Why is it called UFO Village in the first place?

There have long been many reports of UFO sightings in the area around Senganmori, located north of Iino Town

By the way, Senganmori is not a forest but a mountain. The mountain itself is full of mystery, with a beautiful conical shape and a powerful magnetic field, and there are also mysterious megaliths in the surrounding area. When you analyze this area with Senganmori as a key point, you can see why it is called the Mystery Zone

"The Mystery of Senganmori," which is shown in the 3D theater at the UFO Fureaikan . It's a very compelling video, and I couldn't help but stare at it. "The Mystery of Senganmori" can be screened by asking a staff member after viewing the permanent exhibits.

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Go through the Mystery Zone? to the exhibition room

I wrote about the 3D theater earlier, but let's start again from the entrance

First, pay the 400 yen admission fee at the reception and turn left. "Mystery Zone Entrance" and you'll find yourself in a corridor bathed in blue light. Go through here and you'll reach the exhibition room.

the "Alien Area," where you can see UFOs and aliens .

In addition to the panel exhibits, which are changed from time to time, there is also an area with alien figures where you can take commemorative photos. There are also exhibits that explain various UFO sightings around the world, UFO photos, and research documents on UFOs

Also noteworthy is the library donated by UFO researcher Kinichi Arai. UFO enthusiasts may find the book they've been wanting to read here

There are well-known stories about UFO sightings, but reading the explanations again made the movie "Independence Day" feel much more familiar. I started to worry about what would happen if a giant, aggressive UFO were to fly over Japan... and whether the current Japanese government is in a good position

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It might be nice to take a bath and wait for a UFO

After viewing the exhibition room and 3D theater on the first floor, head to the second floor. There is a bath. It is a separate observation bath for men and women, and all visitors are free to use it. As it is an observation bath, the view is quite impressive

If you saw a UFO while soaking in the bathtub...just thinking about it would make your heart race, right?

On the same floor as the bath, there is a large Japanese-style room where you can lie down and relax. The view of the mountains from this room is amazing. Perhaps because it was a weekday, it was very quiet and I was able to relax

This got me thinking, if the person I'm traveling with has no interest in UFOs or doesn't like them (?), I could have them stay on the second floor while I enjoy the first floor

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After the UFO Interaction Hall, we went to the UFO Product Hall

The UFO Product Center is located down the hill from the UFO Interaction Center

As the name suggests, you can purchase products from Iino Town and the surrounding area here. UFO-related items are especially recommended. There are some items that are hard to find anywhere else

The product hall has a panoramic restaurant attached to it

There are various snacks on the menu, but I tried the recommended Double Jidori Ramen (Salt) . The soup is made with the bones of two types of chicken representative of Fukushima: Kawamata Shamo, a specialty of Kawamata town near Iino, and Aizu Jidori.

The banner modestly said, "Delicious! Supposedly," but it was definitely delicious. To be honest, I was quite surprised. And it was only 650 yen!

, Hoda Hoda Ball and Ndan Ball, are also amazing. They were so delicious that I asked the shop staff, "How are these made?", to which they replied, "Hoda Hoda Ball is made by mixing rice seasoned with vegetable curry, forming it into a rice ball with two types of cheese as the core, wrapping it around pork belly on the outside, and dipping it twice in breadcrumbs mixed with powdered cheese, before deep-frying it for a long time."

It was explained in a casual manner, but I wonder how much work went into making it... The same goes for the Japanese-style Nonda Ball. And it's so filling, yet only 110 yen! I wish they'd beg me on my knees for convenience store fries

Although it was sold out when I visited, you can also drink coffee made with beans from Nakuri Coffee, a famous coffee shop in Iitate Village that is now operating in Fukushima City

I highly recommend the Panorama Restaurant, including the view. I would definitely come back just to eat there

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After visiting the UFO Fureaikan, you'll also want to visit the shopping district and Senganmori Promenade

It takes just under 30 minutes by car from Fukushima Station to the UFO Fureaikan. If you're taking the bus, take the JR bus from the east exit of Fukushima Station to Kawamata High School, get off at the "UFO no Sato" bus stop, and then walk for about 10 minutes (it's uphill). It's surprisingly close

If you can see a UFO here, great! But if you can't, try walking along the UFO trail in Senganmori

It might also be a good idea to visit the town of Iino. There are aliens here and there in the Iinomachi shopping district thanks to the "Let's bring aliens to town" project

UFO Interaction Center <Information>

• Name: UFO Interaction Center
• Address: 1-299 Aoki Kotekamimori, Iino-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1303
• Phone number: 024-562-2002
• Official URL: https://ufonosato.com/

Google Maps

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