Inawashiro Town in Yama District, adjacent to Fukushima City, is a town rich in nature, home to Mount Bandai and Lake Inawashiro. Numerous wild birds can be observed at Lake Inawashiro, with approximately 3,000 swans visiting annually. The town boasts 11 nationally designated Important Cultural Properties and a thriving tourism industry thanks to its many tourist attractions. The town boasts the Mother Pass Battlefield, a fierce battlefield during the Boshin War; Kodairagata Tenmangu Shrine, one of Japan's three great Tenjin shrines; Tenjinhama Beach; and Miya no Oishi, a national natural monument. Due to the heavy snowfall in winter, there are several ski resorts, mainly in Inawashiro and Minowa. Hot springs are also abundant, with numerous hot spring facilities. Inawashiro Town is also known as the birthplace of Hideyo Noguchi.