Wooden seated statue of Tathagata and wooden standing statue of Eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva at Hasedera Temple

Ayari Daigongen

The dancing Daigongen created in 1996 by the Ayari Daigongen Preservation Society is the largest in Japan with a lion's head measuring 2 meters square and weighing 200 kg, and has been passed down as a traditional dance in the region. It is a symbol of Gongenmai. The giant lion's head is operated by two people using an excavator, and its dynamic movements captivate the audience. It is held once every five years in the Ayari area, and is demonstrated at the five-year festival and New Year's Day.

Suneka of Yoshihama

A small New Year's ritual held on January 15th every year. Suneka, a straw man wearing a strange mask, goes around the houses in the area, praying for the healthy growth of children, a rich harvest, and a bountiful catch. The origin of ``suneka'' is said to be ``sunekawa taguri'', which is used to peel off the skin of the skin on the shins, which is caused by being too lazy to be around irori during the cold winter. The gestures and appearance that warn against lazy or crying children are very regional. The Yoshihama Suneka Preservation Society carries out activities to pass on the history of Suneka, such as lending costumes to children in the area. It was designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property in 2004. On November 29, 2018, "Visiting Gods: Gods in Masks and Costumes," including "Yoshihama Suneka," was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Cape Goishi

It is located at the southernmost tip of the Goishi Coast, with its tip at 38 degrees 50 minutes north latitude and 141 degrees 44 minutes east longitude. The lighthouse is 10.5m high and transmits light 32km offshore, watching over ships sailing off the coast of Sanriku. You can also see Mt. Kinka in the distance on the horizon.