Sightseeing Spots

Kenji Miyazawa Monument

In 1930, Kenji was invited to work as an engineer at a limestone factory in Higashiyama Town, but due to overwork he was sick in bed. In later years, young men who admired Kenji erected a monument in Niiyama Park that reads, ``First, we will all become the shining dust of the universe and be scattered across the endless sky.''

Ashitoyama Kagoiwa

This is a large rock located halfway up Murone Shrine. There is a space beneath this large rock where people can bend down, and it is said that the Confucian scholar Ashi Higashiyama, born in Shibumin, Daito Town, who loved Mt. Murone, holed up in this rock cave and meditated.

anthill park

Antzuka Park is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot located halfway up Mt. Murone. There are 200 cherry trees in the park, which bloom from late April to early May, and the ``Antizuka Park Cherry Blossom Festival'' is held, as well as other events, so it is crowded with many tourists. It is also the entrance to the Mt. Murone mountain trail, and many climbers begin their climb from the park to the summit of Mt. Murone.

Isawa Marugoto Information Center

Inquiries and reservations regarding tourist information for Oshu City's Izawa Ward will be accepted, and special products will be exhibited.

Koyasu Kannon (Maria Kannon)

The standing rock that stands on the opposite bank from the exit of Yugen Cave has been a place of worship since ancient times as Kannon Sacred Mountain. Koyasu Kannon, which is enshrined in Kannon Cave, is said to have been secretly worshiped by hidden Christians during the Edo period, and is also known as Maria Kannon. *Visitors are currently not allowed due to the risk of falling rocks.

Cedar trees at Soshoji Temple

At Matsukawa Soshoji Temple in Higashiyama Town, there is a row of 30 splendid 450-year-old cedar trees of uniform thickness that stretches for about 200 meters, and there is also a 570-year-old fir tree at the main gate.

Tomb of Princess Suga

In the first year of Engi, the wife of Michizane Sugawara, known as the god of learning, was exiled to Isawa District, where she passed away in September of the same year at the age of 42. Currently, one stone monument and two five-ring pagodas remain as his grave in Tagawazu, Higashiyama Town.

25 Bodhisattva Hall

This statue of Amida Nyorai and the 25 Bodhisattvas that follow him are designated as Iwate Prefecture's tangible cultural properties. It is said that Seisei-in Temple in Kyoto is the only place where 25 Bodhisattva statues are carved, and the Bodhisattva statues, which have beautiful chisel marks, are said to be national treasures if they had heads.

Higashiyama Washi “Paper Making Museum”

Exhibition and sale of handmade "Higashiyama Washi", which is produced according to an 800-year tradition. In addition to dolls and accessories, we also sell a variety of washi-related items, such as torn pictures and washi paper for pressed flowers. You can also try out simple paper making. The journey time is 15-30 minutes. You can make your own washi paper with your favorite colors and leaves. [Price] 1,000 yen for 1 person, 1,500 yen for 2 people, 700 yen for 3 or more people (separate shipping fee will be charged)

Aoyagikura Monument

Bunzo Aoyagi built a paddy warehouse in Nakazato, his hometown of Matsukawa, in 1931 in order to save the people of Higashiiwai District who were suffering from hunger and disease due to a famine and poor harvest.He wrote the origin of the storehouse in front of it. It is a monument. It is said that thanks to this warehouse, during the Tenpo famine, relief efforts spread throughout the county, and there were no roadside deaths as seen elsewhere. In this way, Bunzo was not only a great benefactor of the disaster relief efforts, but also thought about the good of the world and people, and founded the Aoyagi Bunko in Sendai. He is considered the founder of public libraries in our country.

Iwai Shimizu

It is said that Fujiwara Hidehira had Wakamizu drawn from here and carried on the morning of New Year's Day. A stone monument has been erected that reads, ``The forgotten water of Iwai in the shadow of the Tokiwa tree is a name that does not remember summer,'' and is where Iwai District got its name.

Ranboudani

White waves crash violently in the valley of the sea facing a sheer cliff of several tens of meters. As the name suggests, you can see the wild and magnificent scenery below. There is an observation deck on the cliff on the left.