Sightseeing Spots

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Mizusawa VLBI Observatory

It is the only one in Japan and continues to be observed 24/7.

Kurosaki Senkyo

A typical view of the ria coastline unfolds. Part of the rock has caved in, creating a narrow channel between the sheer cliffs, which is eroded by the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Waves change the topography over many years. You can catch a glimpse of nature's creation. The nearby garden is a hidden spot for camellias.

Saito Makoto Memorial Museum

Memorial hall for Saito Minoru (1858-1936), who was killed by a bullet during the February 26 Incident. A memorial hall built on the site of Saito Minoru's former residence. The old house has also been preserved and a glimpse of what life was like back then is open to the public. Inside the museum, medals and formal accessories showing the accomplishments of Minoru are on display. In particular, a cracked mirror that was hit by a bullet during the February 26 Incident vividly tells the story of the turbulent times.

Goto Juanen

Located in Fukuhara, south of Mizusawa, this small park is said to have been the residence of Goto Juan, a feudal lord in the early Edo period. Currently, a mausoleum commemorating Juan's achievements, a samurai residence from the late Edo period, and the former residence of the Yoshida family have been relocated and opened to the public.

Miwamori Park

Located to the west of Mizusawa, Green Hill Mibunmori is a natural park-like area that takes advantage of the gently rolling hills to create athletic courses and nature trails. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall, all year round. There is also an outdoor stage, a campsite, and an all-weather pool, which can be used for a variety of purposes. You can see a panoramic view of Mizusawa City from the observation deck. From Mizusawa-Esashi Station, transfer to Iwate Prefectural Transportation Haneda Ofunato Line Mizusawa Ekidori bus stop and head to Miwamori bus stop.

Azalea of ​​Mount Kyozuka

Kyozukayama is said to have been Fujiwara Hidehira's sutra store in the old days, and at the top of the mountain there is a ``horseshoe stone'' where Minamoto Yoshitsune is said to have ridden his horse and made hoof prints. In addition, the view from the summit towards Hiraizumi and Maezawa is wonderful, with the Isawa alluvial fan spreading out from the Ou Mountains, the Shizui villages and countryside dotted there, and the Kitakami River that meanders slowly across the area. It is a famous place for azaleas that grow in clusters, and the best time to see them is late May.

Komagata Shrine

In 1903, the shrine that was located at the top of Mt. Komagatake was moved to its current location. It is a quiet shrine surrounded by cherry blossoms and old cedar trees. Along with the cherry blossoms in Mizusawa Park, it has been designated as a natural monument by the prefecture as a group of Higan cherry blossoms. A children's cavalry parade is held as an annual spring festival.

Kimura Sakae Memorial Museum

Memorial hall for Sakae Kimura (1870-1943), the astronomer who discovered the "Z term". In order to honor the achievements of world-famous Dr. Sakae Kimura, who was the first director of the Latitude Observatory and discovered the observational unknown ``Z term'' in 1899, the observatory will remain as it was when it opened (1899). It was preserved in its original form and turned into a memorial museum. From Mizusawa-Esashi Station, transfer to the Iwate Prefectural Transportation Haneda Ofunato Line Mizusawa Ekidori bus stop and head to Tenmondai-mae bus stop.

Nationally designated historic site Nagahide Takano’s former residence

The former home where Nagahide Takano, a visionary of the end of the Edo period, lived as a child still remains. It was renovated in 1891 and is still the residence of the Takano family, but the two downstairs rooms, 8 tatami and 6 tatami, which were Nagahide's living quarters, remain as they were when Nagahide lived there. .

Birthplace of Kiyoshi Sasaki

Yoshiyoshi Sasaki dictated the folklore and folk tales of the Tono region to Kunio Yanagida, the author of The Tales of Tono. The house where Kiyoshi Sasaki was born is located in Yamaguchi, Tsuchibuchi Town, and although it no longer has the thatched roof of the past, it still stands in its original location. His grave is located in a mass cemetery on a hill called ``Yamaguchi Dannohana'' near his birthplace.

Skunk cabbage from Sadato Plateau

In the mountains of Tono, where winters are long, the white fairy skunk cabbage, which heralds the arrival of late spring, displays its dainty flowers from mid- to late April every year. It is located in the wetlands of the Sadato Plateau national forest northeast of Tono, and is in full bloom over an area of ​​approximately 1.7 hectares. Best time to see: April 15th to April 25th

Fureai Land Iwaizumi

``Fureai Land Iwaizumi'' has an auto campground, cottages and trailer houses, a barbecue area, an artificial slope for sledding, playground equipment, and an open space, so you can relax and have fun with your family in the great outdoors. ``Blue Train Nihonkai'' is a sleeper express train that can be used as a lodging facility in its original condition, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere of train travel.