Camellia in Ofunato City

Fudo Falls

Fudo Falls, which seems to break the silence of the surrounding area, is called Otaki Falls on the right side and Onna Falls on the left side, and Fudoson, one of the five great kings, is enshrined next to it. The height of the Otaki Falls is approximately 15 meters, and when there is a lot of water, it looks just like the Oirase Valley. Fudo Falls has also been certified as one of Iwate's top 20 famous waters.

Three-faced camellia

This giant camellia tree is located in the grounds of Kumano Shrine in Suesaki Town.It is 17 meters tall, 8 meters in circumference at the base, and is the largest and oldest tree in Japan, approximately 1,400 years old. At that time, there were camellias on the east, south, and west sides of the shrine, which is why it got its name, but now only the east side remains and is designated as a natural monument by the prefecture.

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.