Shirakawa City is located in the southern part of the Nakadori region of Fukushima Prefecture in the southern Tohoku region. Located 190 km from Tokyo, Shirakawa City is a popular destination for commuters to the capital region via the Shinkansen. Shirakawa has long served as the gateway to Oshu, and many songs refer to the Shirakawa Barrier. Shirakawa Castle, which still stands today, is said to have once possessed power surpassing that of the Date clan. In the early Edo period, the city flourished as the castle town of the Shirakawa Domain and served as the terminus of the Oshu Kaido road. The city is also home to Nanko Park, said to be Japan's first park, and Matsudaira Sadanobu, who led the Kansei Reforms, remains beloved by local residents. Today, with the development of the Shinkansen and Tohoku Expressway, the city's geographical advantages and climatic conditions have led to the establishment of factories and research and development facilities.