Aomatsushima

Fumonji Temple

It is said to have been founded by Osho Kigai, the son of the monk Eisai of Kenninji Temple in Kyoto, and there is a garden with a three-storied pagoda, a large Buddha statue, and a statue of the Nio, as well as a row of giant cedar trees, and azaleas bloom profusely in early summer. The three-storied pagoda in the garden (a prefectural cultural property) is a wooden building with a copper plate roof that was built in 1809. There is also a seated statue of the Bodhisattva Sho Kannon, a tangible cultural property designated by the prefecture, and crape myrtles, a natural monument designated by the prefecture. ・Kesen 33 Kannon 29th temple ・Oshu 33 Kannon 29th temple

Mt. Hikami

Located in the southeastern part of the Kitakami Mountains, this mountain has an altitude of 874.7m, with the southwestern foot of the mountain connecting to Hirota Bay, and the northeastern base leading to Ofunato Bay. The mountain's name is said to originate from a legend that even if a forest fire broke out, the fire would be extinguished as soon as the flames got close to this mountain. The West Palace, the Nakano Palace, and the East Palace are enshrined at the top of the mountain, and it is said to be a mountain for praying for rain and the god of fire prevention, and has attracted the devotion of local people as a place to pray for a good harvest and a big catch. The area near the summit is a rolling grassland and shrub belt, where you can enjoy lilies of the valley and azaleas during the fresh green season, and autumn leaves in the fall. The Tamayama Plateau, which is a typical trailhead, is home to the ruins of the Tamayama Gold Mine, which is said to have supported the Hiraizumi Golden Culture by three generations of Fujiwara. To the north are Mt. Hayachine and Mt. Goyo, to the southwest are Mt. Murone, and the ria coastline of Minamisanriku.

Hojumatsu of Kezoji Temple

This is a 20m tall Japanese black pine located within the grounds of Kezoji Temple, and its flowering habits are opposite to those of other trees. Ordinary pine trees have one or two female flowers at the tips of new branches, and the male flowers gather below, but in this pine, the female flowers gather in the center of the branches, and the male flowers appear above and below them. Therefore, it is called ``Hojumatsu'' because dozens of pine cones gather together and look like ``Hojumatsu''. Nationally designated natural monument (designated in 1933)