FOREST PARK ADATARA
After five years of planning and two years of construction, July 19, 1998 saw the opening of Forest Park Avatara at Kenmin no Mori. The park, which is located in Otama-mura in central Fukushima, features the first  automobile camping ground in the prefecture.

Sporting the slogan "Living together with the forest,"Forest Park Adatara was created in order to give prefectural citizens ample opportunity to experience and enjoy the beauty of nature. The Park is spread over forty hectares of forest and features facilities for every type of camper. Able to accommodate eight hundred people at full capacity, the ground contains one hundred and seventy camp sites including space for twenty caravans and forty three tent sites for large groups. Each camp site is encircled by trees in order to maintain the privacy of campers, and dotted around the grounds are five satellite houses featuring shower, toilet, washing and cooking facilities and vending machines.

For campers preferring to enjoy nature in more luxurious surroundings than a tent, Forest Park Adatara also features ten trailer houses that can sleep up to six people and twenty cottages of various sizes. The trailer houses measure approximately ten metres in length and feature all the comforts of a hotel including a television, telephone, refrigerator, microwave oven, shower, toilet and even air conditioning. The twenty cottages range in size from sixty six square metres to eighty eight square metres and can accommodate groups of five to seven people comfortably. Very much a "home away from home", the interior designs of the buildings feature spacious rooms with polished wooden floors or tatami. Complete with all the modern conveniences and comforts including futons, a gas stove and a fireplace, the cottages are placed in such a way that all windows look out onto an uninterrupted view of green forest, and their large decks can be enjoyed in relative privacy. The grounds and facilities were all designed so that the buildings would blend in with the environment and not detract from the surrounding nature. Even sign posts are small and discreet and lighting has been kept close to the ground so that it will not affect star gazing at night.

On the plaque which commemorates the opening of the park, Governor Sato's personal message urges people to "Play in the forest, learn in the forest, work in the forest, protect the forest, live in the forest." In keeping with this aim, people are encouraged to roam freely around the park and explore the forest at their leisure. For the not-so-adventurous, there are a variety of walking tracks which wind through the forest, the longest taking two and a half hours to complete. In addition, a children's play area has been designated, as well as a stream park which has three ponds of different depths and a waterfall which can be enjoyed from viewing platforms. To complete the perfect holiday spot, Forest Park Adatara also features a rotenburo (outdoor onsen), where patrons can soak in a hot herb bath while surrounded by spectacular nature.

For the bring-it-yourselfers, camping fees range from 1,500 yen for a free site to 5,000 yen for a caravan site, while those preferring luxury accommodation must fork out 16,000 yen for a trailer unit and 17,000 - 21,000 yen for a cottage per night. These fees are paid on top of a basic fee of 600 yen per adult and 300 yen for elementary and junior high students. Those who are keen on camping but who find themselves a little short on gear also need not fret. Forest Park Adatara rents out all the equipment necessary for a successful campout, including tents, burners and even sleeping bags. Camping in Fukushima Prefecture has never been easier and it is hoped that the people of the prefecture will take full advantage of the beautiful nature and excellent facilities that Forest Park Adatara provides. Bookings can be made by calling the Park on 0243-48-2040.