Fukushima Prefecture is located at the southernmost tip of the Tohoku region and is divided into seven regions: North, Central, South, Aizu, South Aizu, Soso, and Iwaki. It is a region with a variety of climatic and cultural characteristics, from the inland areas to the Pacific coast. People tend to think that it is cold in the Tohoku region, but summers are relatively pleasant with cool breezes from the sea, and even winters are relatively mild with only a few days of snowfall. Aizu is the third largest prefecture in Japan in terms of land area, and is home to magnificent nature and historical sites that remain strong in many places. In particular, Aizu Wakamatsu Castle, Shirakawa Komine Castle, and other castles that remind us of the culture of the Edo period, as well as the Soma Nomaoi Festival and Aizu Tajima Gionsai Festival, both of which are nationally recognized as important intangible folk cultural assets, offer a taste of the atmosphere of the past. The local specialty is vegetables, of which there are many varieties. In particular, cucumbers and tomatoes are produced in abundance from summer to fall and are famous throughout Japan. The prefecture is rich in nature, and its location near the sea makes it an attractive place to eat fresh seafood and vegetables, such as saury, bonito, and tuna.