Sightseeing Spots

Nationally designated historic site Izawa Castle Ruins

Isawa Castle, built by Sakanoue Tamuramaro in Enryaku 21 (802), is a square castle surrounded by a 675-meter-long earthen wall, and many government offices, including the government office, were located within the castle. . It has been designated as a national historic site, and as excavations progress, valuable materials have been discovered, including wooden tablets, earthenware with letters inscribed on them, as well as lacquer paper documents containing the history of the castle and the soldiers who worked at the castle.

Goto Shinpei’s former residence

It is a samurai residence from the mid-Edo period and is designated as a tangible cultural property by the prefecture. The roof is hipped and thatched, retaining the appearance of a lower-class samurai's residence from the mid-Edo period. This is the former home of Shinpei Goto, who was the head page of the Rusu family, and the current floor plan was renovated by Shinpei in his later years.

Haku Goto Memorial Community Center

It is known as the first "community center" in Japan. It was constructed and donated in November 1941. The donor was Matsutaro Shoriki, the president of Yomiuri Shimbun at the time, who was a close friend of Shinpei Goto, and the gift was given to him on the 13th anniversary of Shinpei's death as a token of gratitude for his past kindness. After that, it was used as the Mizusawa City Community Center, and since October 2001, it has become the ``Mizusawa City Haku Goto Memorial Community Center.''

Gyozan-ryu Spring Deer Dance (city-designated intangible folk cultural property)

The head with deer antlers and the long sasara carried on the back are impressive, and in Miyagi Prefecture, it is also called the ``Yakka Odori'' because it is performed in groups of eight. There are various traditions regarding its origin and transmission route, and it is divided into Gyozan-ryu, Kanazu-ryu, Kasuga-ryu, etc. The spring water is called the Gyuzan school, which is descended from the Hisada Shika dance in the Esashi area of ​​Oshu city. According to tradition, Shikaodori began in the Shiroishi/Yusui area in 1866. *Performances may be held at any time upon request, such as festivals at nearby shrines such as Komagata Shrine, and performing arts competitions.

Menkoi Art Museum

Many pastel paintings by Seijiro Sasaki, a local painter who was active from the Taisho era to the early Showa era, are on display. In addition, works by currently active artists are on display, allowing you to casually appreciate art. Specimens of swallowtail butterflies from around the world are displayed in the exhibition room on the second floor.

Kitadate cherry blossoms

The Edohigan cherry tree is said to have been planted by a pilgrim monk named Nansobou around 1300 at the place where the Abe family lived and met in Kitadate.Estimated to be 700 years old, root circumference 7m20cm, tree height 19m, a natural tree in Oshu City. It is designated as a monument. [Best time to see] Mid-April to late April

Minami Iwate Exchange Plaza

Located within the premises of Mizusawa-Esashi Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, this museum exhibits and introduces Minami-Iwate's products, sightseeing, and history. Inside the museum, a model of the music stall from the Hidaka Fire Prevention Festival is displayed, recreating the colorful festival scene.

Oshu City Samurai Housing Museum

There are samurai residences such as the former residence of the Uchida family in the late Edo period and the former residence of Goto Shinpei, as well as the samurai housing resource center.The center has a museum with the theme of the castle town of Mizusawa, including a map that allows you to see at a glance the townscape of Mizusawa Castle in the Edo period and the present day. In addition to armor, matchlocks, spears, and other armor and weapons, there are also exhibits such as checkboxes, abacus, and other materials. This facility serves as a starting point for sightseeing in the city and is a free rest area.

Samurai housing

In the early modern period, Mizusawa was a castle town with a population of 16,000 koku, and the townscape still remains reminiscent of those days. Mizusawa Castle was a flat castle, also known as Wagyu Castle, but it was surrounded by samurai residences, and was a key point for the defense of the northern part of the Sendai domain, with key-shaped roads and squares that served as key points of defense in battle. . Even now, there are still remains of the castle ruins, including the Ubagisugi, samurai residences, Hibagaki streets, and merchant storehouses.

Irie District Wide Area Exchange Center

There are large public baths for men and women, as well as a circular heated pool.

Hidaka Shrine

It is said to have been founded in the first year of Konin (710) in the early Heian period, and rebuilt in the first year of Shocho (1428). On the grounds is the Tachiarai River Monument, where Yawata Taro Yoshiie is said to have washed the sword with which he killed Abe Sadato. The main shrine is designated as a national important cultural property. It is also known as the shrine for the Hidaka Fire Prevention Festival.

Goto Shinpei Memorial Museum

Memorial Hall for Goto Shinpei (1857-1929), also known as the Great Furoshiki. A far-sighted politician who served as the mayor of Tokyo, Minister of the Interior, and president of the Railway Agency. Inside the museum, many items related to Shinpei from his childhood to his later years are on display. Next to the memorial hall is the Haku Goto Memorial Community Center, Japan's first "community center", which was given to commemorate the 13th anniversary of Shinpei's death.