Hayachine Daikonryu Tsuchizawa Yamabushi Kagura

Kenji Miyazawa

Born in Hanamaki City. He demonstrated his talent in many fields, including literature, education, agriculture, geology, and religion. He entered Morioka High School of Agriculture and Forestry (currently Iwate University Faculty of Agriculture) at the top of his class and conducted geological survey research, and after graduating, he worked at the agricultural school and the Rasu Jijinkai to educate and guide farmers. In terms of literature, he has published works such as the mental sketch (poetry collection) ``Spring and Shura'' and the children's story collection ``Restaurant with Many Orders.'' He is also an avid follower of the Nichiren sect, and his religious ideas can be seen in his works. He loved his hometown, Iwate, and considered it his utopia, calling it ``Ihatov.'' Because he traveled all over the prefecture, monuments of his poems and poems are scattered throughout the prefecture. He passed away from acute pneumonia in 1930. The Kenji Festival is held on September 21st, the anniversary of his death.

Hanawa dyke flower irises community

A colony of iris grows densely in a vast 1.6 ha wetland in the middle of a rice field near the JR Tohoku Main Line. There are about 1,000 of them, and during the flowering season, purple and red flowers bloom like pointillism among the greenery. Although it is a member of the iris family, the local variety is the wild iris, which can be found in the wilderness of Japan. It is attracting attention as a rare colony because oddly shaped flowers often appear. A nationally designated natural monument. Flowering period: late June to early July

Toriyagasaki Park

Hanamaki Castle was originally called Toriyazaki Castle and is said to have been the stronghold of the Abe clan in the 10th century. Currently, the Nishimikado gate has been restored, and the main enclosure remains has been developed as a park. The area around the park is lined with cherry blossom trees, and is crowded with visitors during cherry blossom season. Usual best time to see: Mid-April to late April