Tabu no Oshima

Yamada Town

Coast

Funakoshi Oshima is located at the southern tip of the Funakoshi Peninsula and is commonly known as ``Tab no Oshima.'' The island, which has a circumference of 2km, is thickly covered with subtropical plants called cypress trees due to the influence of the warm Kuroshio Current. Tabunoki is an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family that grows naturally in warm coastal areas, and the island is the northern limit of its natural distribution in Japan. In addition, the eastern part of the island is home to Senjojiki, a sea-eroded shelf carved out of granite by the violent waves of the Oyashio Current, and is known as a breeding ground for petrels. There is a shrine hidden from the open sea in a dense cedar grove, and the island's sandy beaches and sea have been worshiped as sacred places since ancient times. Boasting some of the clearest and most beautiful seawater on the Rikuchu Coast, pretty flowers bloom on the sea ledges and rocky areas that continue to be eroded. It was designated as a natural monument of Iwate Prefecture on April 5, 1951. There are no regular cruise ships that take you to the island, so we recommend viewing it from the Shijuhachizaka Observation Deck. It is one of Yamada's eight views.

Location: Funakoshi, Yamada-cho, Shimohei-gun, Iwate-gun, 028-0000
Inquiries: Yamada Town Fisheries and Commerce Division
Phone number 0193-82-3111
FAX number 0193-82-6052
Website: http://www.town.yamada.iwate.jp/

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Funakoshi Peninsula

It is a peninsula that juts out between Funakoshi Bay and Yamada Bay, and the cliffs run from the middle of Mt. Kasurodake (504m above sea level) all the way to the sea, forming the 300m high reddish-brown cliff ``Akahira Kongo''. To the southeast of the Funakoshi Peninsula is an uninhabited island with a circumference of 2 km.The southeast of the island is the northern limit of tabu trees (a natural monument of the prefecture), and to the south is a granite sea shelf called Senjojiki.

Yamada Town

Coast

Nature / Scenery

Shijuhachizaka Observation Deck

It was named ``Shijuhachizaka'' because it was said to be a difficult place for transportation in the past and had many winding slopes. Today, with the opening of National Route 45, the road has been improved and it has become the southern gateway to Yamada Town, and the observation deck has become a place for tourists and others to rest during their drive. Because it faces the Pacific Ocean, the observation deck offers a panoramic view of the varied coastline and rounded horizon. It is located along National Route 45, 33 km from Miyako and 20 km from Kamaishi, halfway between the two, and is one of Yamada's eight scenic spots.

Yamada Town

Coast

Nature / Scenery

Toyomane River headwaters

About 10km upstream from Hito Bridge, deep in the Osonoera swamp, there is a limestone cave that is still not fully understood, and a forest of beech and oak trees that are about 150 years old. The headwaters of the Toyomane River flow through this area, one of the few unexplored areas left in Yamada Town. The clear stream that flows continuously from the stream merges with the source and becomes a tributary of the Tsugaru Ishi River, which runs through the steep mountains of the Kitakami Mountains. In autumn, the green leaves of the trees turn bright red, coloring the mountains, and then falling, eventually becoming covered in snow. This process has been repeated over and over again, becoming the source of creating a rich land. The Japanese scenery that changes with the seasons soothes the hearts of those who see it. It is also a treasure trove of char and yamame trout, and is popular among mountain stream fishing fans. The valley, which runs through a clear stream, is full of cool air even in the hottest season, making it the perfect place for forest bathing. It is also one of the Eight Views of Yamada.

Yamada Town

Coast

Nature / Scenery