Spots/Experiences (list)

Takano Choei Memorial Museum

Memorial Hall for Choei Takano (1804-1850), a pioneer of the late Edo period. Located in a corner of Mizusawa Park, the hall displays portraits and letters. Among them, the "Kakubu Shibun," a poem written by Choei in prison on what appears at first glance to be a blank piece of paper, is a valuable document that secretly expresses his intention to escape from prison. 　Many of the materials in the museum are designated as National Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

Hachimantai Mountaintop Rest House

A relaxing space on the summit of Hachimantai. On the 1st floor above ground and the 2nd basement floor, there are rest corners offering meals and local products to soothe the fatigue of sightseeing. Also, the natural environment information corner is full of information about Hachimantai. It provides information on alpine plants and hot springs.

Matsukawa Valley

The valley continues from the Matsukawa Onsen Hot Spring area. In addition to the fishing for iwana (char) and yamame (landlocked salmon), the colorful autumn foliage is spectacular in the fall. Best time to view the changing leaves: Early October to late October

Miyazawa Kenji Stone Monument (Koharasha)

A stone pillar inscribed with a portion of the children's story "The Ravenous Big Dipper" and a monument at the site of the publication of the children's story "The Restaurant of Many Orders" stand at Kohgensha in Zaimoku-cho. The stone pillar is inscribed with the words "Ah, Maziel-sama, please help this world to become a better place by not killing the enemies you can't hate, and for that purpose, I don't care how many times my body is torn apart. However, he returned to his hometown due to his younger sister Toshi's illness. In the same year, he became a teacher at the Hanamaki Prefectural Agricultural School, and this was the peak of his creative period for children's stories.

mysterious cave

This limestone cave was discovered 1.3 km north of Geibikei Gorge. The cave boasts a geological history of approximately 350 million years ago, with flowstones, icicles, stalagmites, cave corals, and an emerald green underground lake formed from the ceiling to the walls.

Mitsuharasha

Kogensha is the publisher of Kenji Miyazawa's collection of children's stories, ``Restaurant with Many Orders,'' published before his death. Although it is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Japanese fairy tale literature, it was not talked about at the time and hardly sold. In the courtyard facing the Kitakami River, there is a monument marking the place where the book was published, a stone pillar carved with part of the fairy tale ``The Crow's Big Dipper,'' and there is also a museum exhibiting Kenji's handwritten manuscripts. In addition, at the ``Kakaikan'' coffee room, which has a pleasant atmosphere decorated with stained glass, you can enjoy hand-brewed coffee and the famous ``walnut cookies.''

Fumonji Temple

The temple is said to have been founded by Kigai, the son of Eisai Hoshi of Kenninji Temple in Kyoto. It has a garden with a three-story pagoda, a large statue of Buddha, and a statue of Niou, and a row of huge cedar trees, with azaleas in full bloom in early summer. The three-story pagoda in the garden (a cultural property of the prefecture) is a wooden structure with a copper shingle roof built in 1809. There is also a seated statue of Saint Kannon, designated as a tangible cultural property by the prefecture, and a sarusburi, designated as a natural monument by the prefecture. Kesen Sanjusan Kannon 29th temple ・Oshu Sanjusan Kannon 29th temple

Daikagura

It is said to have been introduced from Ise at the end of the Edo period, and a master Kagura dancer named Okame Kuramatsu worked hard to pass it down, and it is one of the Machikata dances that has been passed down in today's Daiku-cho.

Ungiwaji Temple

Ungai-ji Temple was founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin in 850, and was a branch temple of the mountain temple that was the predecessor of Chuson-ji Temple in Sekizan of the Tendai sect. 　In 1186, when Minamoto no Yoshitsune descended to Oshu Hiraizumi with his twelve followers and his wife Kitanokata, this temple was rebuilt by Kitanokata. After his defeat, the tablets of Yoshitsune and Kitanokata were enshrined by Zuishin priests. 　The temple was destroyed by fire in 2008. The building was rebuilt, but a replica of the tablets is on display in the History Fureaikan.