Category: sightseeing

Mt. Tenjo (Kachi kachi yama)

At Mt. Tenjo in Yamanashi Prefecture, there is another “Kachikachiyama” story involving a 16-year-old girl and a 37-year-old middle-aged man.

The folktale “Kachi kachi yama” is an old tale that has been handed down since the end of the Muromachi period (late 16th century). (In Japanese, “kachi kachi” means the clacking sound of fire and “yama” means a mountain.) The stage is said to be “Mt. Tenjo” in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. In the folktale “Kachikachiyama”, but a rabbit defeats a vicious raccoon dog on behalf of a old man to avenge a murdered old woman, In the “Kachikachiyama” section of Osamu Dazai’s short story collection “Otogi-zoshi” (published in 1945), a rabbit is portrayed as a 16-year-old fastidious girl who is so innocent that she ruthlessly hurts others, and raccoon dog is portrayed as an ugly and foolish 37-year-old middle-aged man who is so in love with rabbit that he keeps following her no matter what she does. “Tenjoyama Park” developed in Mt. Tenjo and there are monuments of the rabbit and the raccoon dog representing scenes of the story are set up everywhere. There is a hiking trail on Mt. Tenjo (elevation 1104m). It is called “Ajisai Hiking Trail” because about 100,000 hydrangeas (Ajisai in Japanese) will be in full bloom all around from the middle of July to the beginning of August. The recommended course is to go up by using the ropeway connecting the lakeside of the Lake Kawaguchi and enjoy the scenery by going down the “Hiking Trail” from top of the mountain. There is a heart-shaped bell installed and it is said that if you look at Mt. Fuji and ring the bell, your love will be fulfilled. “Nakabadaira Observation Plaza” is a viewpoint of Mt.Fuji and also there is a monument of Osamu Dazai. The following is an outline of “Kachi kachi yama” (original story). It is too cruel to read for children. Once upon the time, there was old man and old woman who live by cultivating the soil. old man spread the seeds in the field, but their sprout never came out and it made him wondered. One day he found out that it was because of a raccoon dog. He caught the raccoon dog, took it home and told old woman “Let’s cook raccoon dog soup and eat it”, and he returned to the field. Old woman started preparing to cook raccoon dog soup. Then the raccoon dog started to talk to her. “I am a bad raccoon dog. There is nothing for me but to be eaten. But, it must be difficult to cook raccoon dog soup alone. I will help you. I will be tied up with a rope again by old man come back home.” A kind-hearted old woman untied the rope as the raccoon dog says, then the raccoon dog beat her to death with a pestle. The raccoon dog peeled off old woman and put her flesh in a pot to cook old woman’s soup. The raccoon dog turned into the old woman and waited for old man to come home. Once old man came back from the field, the raccoon dog turned into old woman and let old man eat a soup made from old woman, “old woman soup”. When he ate it, the raccoon dog gloated over it and went back to the mountain. Old man became ill in bed because of so much of a traumatic experience. The rabbit heard about the story and decided to have old woman’s revenge. The rabbit asked the raccoon dog to gather firewood together. The rabbit walked behind the raccoon dog and lit the firewood the raccoon dog was carry on his back. The raccoon dog wondered what about the sound of “kachi kachi” and asked the rabbit. The rabbit answered, “The kachi kachi bird of kachi kachi yama is singing.” The raccoon dog got a large burn on his back. The rabbit applied miso with chili peppers on his back, saying it is good medicine for the burn raccoon dog had. Then the raccoon dog suffered from further pain. A few days later, the rabbit prepared a small wooden ship and a large muddy ship and asked the raccoon dog to go fishing. The rabbit told the raccoon dog to choose a larger muddy ship because a large ship will be able to catch more fish. After a while, a muddy ship sunk with the raccoon dog on it, and the raccoon dog got drowned.

Access to Tenjo Park

From Tokyo

It takes about 1 hour from JR Tokyo Station to JR Takao Station by JR Chuo Line (rapid). Transfer to the JR Chuo Main Line at JR Takao Station and get to JR Otsuki Station in about 40 minutes.

From Osaka

It takes about 2 hours by Tokaido Shinkansen from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Yokohama Station. Transfer to the JR Yokohama Line at JR Yokohama Station and get to JR Hachioji Station in about 50 minutes. Transfer to the Chuo Line at JR Hachioji Station and get to JR Takao Station in about 5 minutes. Transfer to the JR Chuo Main Line at JR Takao Station and get to JR Otsuki Station in about 30 minutes.

Transfer to the Fujikyuko Line at JR Otsuki Station and it takes about 1 hour to Kawaguchiko Station. About 15 minute-walk from JR Kawaguchiko Station. Alternatively, it takes about 10 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station bus stop to Yuransen/ropeway iriguchi bus stop. About 3 minutes by Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway.

2023/08/17
“Ushi no Tsunotsuki” (bullfighting competition) of Yamakoshi and Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture.

The bullfighting competition of Yamakoshi and Ojiya of Niigata, “Ushi no Tsunotsuki” is a traditional event that handed down for 1,000 years. There is no winner or loser, the fight always end in a draw. We want everyone to know what the cow is thinking now…, you should also pay attention to unique announcement at the site!

Ushi no Tsunotsuki is the bullfighting competition which is held in Nagaoka City (Old name: Yamakoshi village) and Ojiya City, Niigata prefecture. Long time ago, those areas were called as Echigo Nijiyu-mura village. Its history is long and it is said that this bullfighting is handed down for more than 1,000 years. A story of this bullfighting appeared in the best-selling novel of Edo period, “Nanso Satomi Hakkenden (The story of eight dog samurai and princess of Satomi family in Nanso region)”. And also, the Zen priest of Echigo (Old name of Niigata), Ryokan watched Ushi no Tsunotsuki and composed a poem before he renounced the world.

The bullfighting of Japan is the competition for cows to try their strength against other’s, and it is currently being held in six prefectures, Niigata, Iwate, Shimane, Ehime, Kagoshima and Okinawa prefecture. Most of the bullfighting competitions in Japan decide winner and loser by fighting in unlimited time like sumo wrestling. However, in the bullfighting of Niigata Prefecture, as they called it as “Ushi no Tsunotsuki”, means the cow horns something in English so, nobody win or lose. By dare to make the fight end in draw at the competition, they increase the fighting spirit of cows that want to fight more. It will give confidence to them and make them stronger. Because the lost cow will lose confidence and they won’t fight from the next. Also in those village, cows are cherished and raised like a family because in the past, cows are important worker to engage in agricultural works. So, people do not want to hurt cows or make them to fight until they get exhausted. This is a reason why they never decide winner or loser and make it end in a draw. Also, “Ushi no Tsunotsuki” itself was a Shinto ritual dedicated to God. Because of such cultural background, it is only bullfighting designated as an important intangible cultural property in Japan.

In Japan, we call the bullfighter who control a cow as “Seko”. The form of Seko differ from place to place, but usually one Seko go with one cow. However, at Ushi no Tsunotsuki of Niigata, from 20 to 30 Seko join in the match. They crowd around two cows and when Seko shout “Yoshita-!” to announce its start, two cows start to fight with their horns. Seko encourages cows by tapping their bodies and shout to them. When their fight reach the climax, the crowds of Seko pull apart the excited cows. They tie a rope on hind leg of cows and pull them up. When cows get apart, Seko grasp their nose which is a weak point of cows and it is the end of fighting. Cows will be quiet once their noses got grasped. Please take a close look to wonderful collaboration of Seko.

Ushi no Tsunotsuki will be held every month from May to November every year at 2 venues of Yamakoshi bullring and Ojiya bullring.

The rope of three colors which the cow wear on his nose is called “Omozuna”. It is something like a decorative apron of a sumo wrestler. When the cow actually fight, they remove this rope.

There is a huge rock beside the Ojiya bullring. The rock broke into two on the day of Heisei 16 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake occurred. After the earthquake, as a symbol of reconstruction, this rock was named “Mimamori Iwa”, means the rock of guardian. It is named from the people’s wish that “I want this rock to guard the citizens from bad lucks”. The look of Mimamori Iwa with Omozuna can be seen like a cow of Ushi no Tsunotsuki.

Access to Yamakoshi bullring

Nagaoka Station by the Joetsu Shinkansen. It takes about 40 minutes by shuttle bus from the east exit of Nagaoka Station to the Yamakoshi bullring.

Access to Ojiya bullring

It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes from JR Tokyo Station to JR Urasa Station by Joetsu Shinkansen. From JR Urasa Station, transfer to the JR Joetsu Line and get to JR Ojiya Station in about 30 minutes. It takes about 15 minutes from Ojiya Station to Ojiya bullring by shuttle bus.

2019/04/27
Highlights of Izumozaki Town, Niigata Prefecture, with a focus on Echigo Izumozaki Tenryo no Sato

Let’s go and see the sunset of Izumozaki where the sea and the sky are dyed in orange! The sunset from Izumozaki is said to be the largest in the world.

Izumozaki is located approximately in the center of Niigata prefecture. This beautiful city is well known the song in “Oku no Hosomichi” of Basho Matsuo, “Araumi ya/ Sado ni yokotau / Amanogawa (Turbulent the sea/ Across to Sado stretches / The Milky Way)”. This haiku talks about the scenery of Sado Island commanded by raging waters of the Sea of Japan. In the Edo period, it became the region under Tokugawa Shogunate’s direct control (shogunal demesne). This place was flourished as an uploading port of gold and silver carried out from Sado Gold Mine and also a port of call of Kitamae-Bune. In addition, because the oil was found at Izumozaki from a long time ago, in Meiji period, it also flourished as “The birthplace of the modern oil industry” where machine boring of oil met with success at first time in Japan.

Recently, this is very popular as a view spot of beautiful sunset in the Sea of Japan and also the sunset from Izumozaki is said to be the biggest in the world.The red sunset is very romantic and the sunset slowly setting in the Sea of Japan is very beautiful. If the climatic conditions meet, before the sunset sinks to the horizon, you may see a green flash that green color flash sparkle only for a moment. In addition, the wooden bridge of 102m length, “Yuunagi no hashi (The bridge of the evening calm)” extending from the seaside park beside Nihonkai Yuhi Line, Japan Sea Sunset Line in English, (Route 352) to the Sea of Japan is recently called “Lover’s Bridge”. It is said “When you put chain on the hardtail of the bridge and lock, your love will succeed.”

When looking down from the hill with Ryokan Memorial Hall, you can see the townscape of Izumozaki well. The house of Izumozaki is characterized by its narrow frontage and long depth called “building with a gabled roof”. Because the tax was decided according to the size of the frontage, so inevitably the houses with a long depth were built. In the Edo period, Izumozaki was the area with the highest population density in Echigo (Old name of Niigata), so its “street of buildings with gabled roofs” continues for about 4 km. This cityscape is the longest in Japan.

There is a roadside station “Echigo Izumozaki Tenryo no Sato” along the Nihonkai Yuhi Line (Route 352). “Tenryo Izumozaki Jidaikan (History museum of a shogunal demesne, Izumozaki)” in the roadside station is the facility to bring you back to the Edo period beyond the time of 400 years.

Izumozaki was under Edo shogunate’s direct control (Tenryo, shogunal demesne). It was flourished as an uploading port of gold and silver carried out from Sado Island and a port of call of Kitamae-Bune. Also, it was flourished as an important post-town of Hokkoku Kaido to bring gold and silver from Sado Gold Mine to Edo. Also, the magistrate’s office was set up and it was the first time in the country of Echigo. Shipping agencies and Japanese-style inns were clustered and many people from different types of business gathered together. The crowd at that time was comparable to No.1 population density of Echigo and there were 20,000 people living in the small area between small mountain and about 10km of coast.

In Jidaikan, the magistrate’s office, the ships of assistant commissioner, merchant houses and streets and people’s lives are reappeared and you can experience the time of Izumozaki flourished as a shogunal demesne. Also, as memories of the trip, there is a service allow you to take a photo with wearing the costume of that time.

In “Nihon Shoki”, there is a description that “Burning water and burning soil were offered from Koshi no Kuni (Old name of Niigata)”, but from a long time ago, oil have been collected from many places in Niigata including Izumozaki.

By the end of Edo period, when Western culture came in Japan and the demand of oil increased rapidly, oil development in Izumozaki also became flourished. In 1891, first oil boring by machine have been succeeded in Japan. Also, the excavation of the world’s first offshore oilfield succeeded and it became a representative oil field of Japan at that time. However, the amount of mining has drastically decreased since the time of the Pacific War and the mining has ended in 1985.

After that, the memorial park was established at the site of oil field and exhibits monuments related to oil mining. Even now the natural gas is still coming out, so inside of the park is “fire prohibited”.

There is a roadside station “Echigo Izumozaki Tenryo no Sato)” across the national highway of this park. In this roadside station “Tenryo Izumozaki Jidaikan” was established together with “Oil memorial hall”, and people who do are not interested in oil can also enjoy it.

On 4^th of July, 1689, Basho Matsuo stopped by Izumozaki and composed haiku, “Araumi ya/ Sado ni yokotau/ Amanogawa”. In “Basho Garden”, which was arranged to commemorate the 300-year anniversary of Oku no Hosomichi, there are the statue which Basho’s handwriting of “Ginga no Jo (Introduction to the Milky Way)” on and his statues. By the way, opposite of “Basho Garden” across the street, there was an inn “Osakiya” where Basho Matsuo stayed overnight.

When I talk about Ryokan, his appearance of playing hide and seek and handball game with children would be very impressive. Ryokan is from Izumozaki, and he is well known Zen priest in late Edo period who is also known as a poet, a Waka poet and a calligrapher. In Izumozaki, there are many historical spots related Ryokan such as “Ryokando” built at the birthplace of Ryokan, “Ryokan Memorial Hall” where many of his autographs and article left behinds are exhibited and temple related to Ryokan.

There is “Ryokan to Yuhi no Oka Park” next to “Ryokan Memorial Hall”. There are Sado Island on the Sea of Japan in front of you, Mt.Yahiko on right side, townscape of Ryokando and buildings with a gabled roof in below. The view from “Ryokan to Yuhi no Oka Park” is said to be No.1 in Niigata.

Access to Izumozaki

It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes from JR Tokyo Station to JR Nagaoka Station by Joetsu Shinkansen. About 45 minutes from Nagaoka-Oteguchi bus stop to Izumozaki-Eki bus stop after getting off at JR Nagaoka Station. Get off at Izumozaki-Eki bus stop.

2019/04/26
JAXA Tsukuba Space Center

Highly recommended for those who get excited when thinking about or talking about space! I went to the “JAXA Tsukuba Space Center” where the Space Brothers also visited and felt the universe!

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) is an organization that consistently conducts everything from basic research to development and operation in the field of aerospace in Japan. JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center, located in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of the largest aerospace development facilities in Japan. Opened in 1972. There is an exhibition hall called “Space Dome” on the site that is 12 times the size of Tokyo Dome. Visitors can get up close and personal with full-scale satellites, real rocket engines, and a full-scale model of the Japanese Experiment Module (nicknamed “Kibo”), part of the International Space Station (ISS), which was built approximately 400 km above the ground. It’s fun to tour the museum on your own, but since there is a free guide provided by the staff, it’s better to deepen your understanding than to tour without explanation. “Tsukuba Space Center” was also used as a filming location for the movie “Space Brothers” (released in 2012), so many “Space Brothers” fans visit here as a pilgrimage to sacred places. A real H-II rocket with a length of 50m is displayed at Rocket Square. It is the first rocket that succeeded in complete domestic production. Even now, if you have fuel and a launch pad, you can fly into space. It is very popular as a photo spot. When you enter the Space Dome, you will see a 1/1,000,000 scale model of the Earth called “Dream Port”. From the N-I rocket to the latest H-IIB rocket, there are many 1/20 scale models and full-scale artificial satellites on display. The International Space Station (ISS) is a huge manned experimental facility built about 400km above the ground. We conduct experiments, research, and observations of the earth and celestial bodies while orbiting the earth at a speed of about 90 minutes. It is an international cooperation project involving 15 countries around the world, including the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. Japan is developing one of the components of the International Space Station, the Japanese Experiment Module (nicknamed Kibo). A life-size model of Kibo is displayed in the Space Dome. The size, interior and details are realistically reproduced. You can actually go inside the model. You can take a commemorative photo with your face sticking out from the space suit replica. There is a shop in the “Planet Cube” adjacent to the Space Dome, where you can purchase souvenirs unique to JAXA, such as space foods and miscellaneous goods. At the Tsukuba Space Center, in addition to the “Space Dome” exhibition, which can be viewed for free, there are paid tours. This observation tour takes you on a JAXA private bus to an area that the general public is not allowed to enter. There, you can see the training facility for astronauts and the operation control room of “Kibo”. (Photography is prohibited for security reasons)

Access to Tsukuba Space Center

It takes about 10 minutes from JR Tokyo Station to JR Ueno Station or JR Nippori Station by Yamanote Line. From JR Ueno Station or JR Nippori Station, transfer to the JR Joban Line and it takes about 1 hour to JR Arakawaoki Station. Get off at JR Arakawaoki Station, and from the Arakawaoki Station West Exit bus stop, take the local bus to the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) bus stop in about 15 minutes. The National Institute for Materials Science bus stop, a short walk.

Alternatively, take the Yamanote Line from JR Tokyo Station to JR Akihabara Station in about 5 minutes. At JR Akihabara Station, transfer to the Tsukuba Express Line (rapid) and it takes about 45 minutes to get to Tsukuba Station. Get off at Tsukuba Station and from the Tsukuba Bus Terminal take the local bus to the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) bus stop in about 5 minutes. The National Institute for Materials Science bus stop, a short walk.

2023/08/21
Unexplored region of Sado Island: Onogame (Tobishima Kanzou daylily colony ), Futatsugame, and Sainokawara sacred place

“Onogame” and “Futatsugame” in Sado Island have a superb view and a swimming beach which were guaranteed by Mr. Michelan! From the end of May to the beginning of June will be the best time to view Tobishima Kanzo daylily, but in winter it is so desolated.

We would like to introduce “Onogame,” one of the greatest view in Sotokaifu coast which is located at the north end of Sado Island, Niigata prefecture. Onogame is a massive rock where 167-meter height monolith is poking into the sea and it is mentioned in “The Michelin Green Guide Japan” as a two-star. It is a representative sightseeing spot of Sado Island which pictures are often used for guidebook frontpage, also famous as a place where Tobishima Kanzo daylily (scientific name: Hemerocallis middendorffii var.exaltata) are in clumps. Although there are climb route to the top, there are times when climbing is not allowed for protecting vegetation. “Onogame” indicates “sacred rock” and is becoming a popular power-spot lately, since the Chinese character “tortoise” used for “game” and “god” are related.

The northern part of the Sotokaifu Coast, where Onogame is located, has steep terrain, so even within Sado Island, roads were not well maintained, and until the late 1960s, the only way to get there was by boat or on foot. This area is an unexplored region even among the islanders, but now that the roads have been improved, it takes only about 60 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port, 70 minutes from Onogame to Senkaku Bay, and 90 minutes to Sado Gold Mine. Buses are available in this area, but some sections of the weekday buses are out of service, and on weekends and holidays, buses are operated by reservation. Therefore, it is not convenient to move around by local buses.

Onogame hill are filled with flowers of Tobishima Kanzo daylily from the end of May to the beginning of June. Tobishima Kanzo daylily is a valuable lily family plant which only grow naturally in Tobishima Island, Yamagata prefecture and Sado Island. Many sightseer visit Onogame to enjoy the contrast between beautiful scenery of blue ocean and Tobishima Kanzo daylily yellow flowers. “Sado Kanzo daylily Festival” are held on second Sunday in June when the flowers are in full bloom, and local performances are given together with this superb view.

“Futatsugame”-two massive rocks- is located about 4-kilometers far from Onogame, it will take about an hour if you walk the coastal trail. The coast of Futatsugame is a popular spot where you can swim, and it also took a two-star in “The Michelin Green Guide Japan.”

There is a hallow ground called “Sainokawara” in the middle of coastal trail that connects Onogame and Futatsugame. It is a place to pray for the soul of children who died young, and there are numberless Jizo and heaped up stones all around. Children must heap up stones for their parents’ soul because they are sinful for dying before their parents. Although the karma will be removed when they complete the stone tower, it never ends because demons will continuously visit and wreck their towers. Sainokawara has a unique atmosphere due to the sound of “Negai(prayer),” a village close-by.

“The Hajikizaki lighthouse” is located at the north edge of Sado Island, it is famous as a lighthouse used and sung in the movie “All Years of Joy and Sadness” by Keisuke Kinoshita in 1957. There once were frequent shipwrecked accidents around, and the lighthouse was placed during the Taisho Period by the strong request of local people. It has been keeping the safety of ships for almost 100 years since. Today’s lighthouse is the second one build in 1990. The lighthouse is normally off-limits but is opened to the public at “Sado Kanzo daylily Festival” once a year. It is recommended as a spot to enjoy beautiful morning sun and sunset.

Access to Onogame Rock

From Tokyo

It takes about 2 hours from JR Tokyo Station to JR Niigata Station by Joetsu Shinkansen. It takes about 15 minutes by local bus from JR Niigata Station to Niigata Port.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour from Itami Airport to Niigata Airport. It takes about 25 minutes by shuttle bus from Niigata Airport to Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal.

From Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal to Sado Kisen Ryotsu Port Terminal, it takes about 1 hour by jetfoil and about 2 hours and 30 minutes by car ferry.

From Ryotsu Port Sado Kisen Bus Stop to Onogame Bus Stop it takes about 1 hour about 50 minutes by local bus (Uchikaifu Line).

2019/04/24
Sightseeing spots around Niigata Port with an exotic atmosphere

Feel the taste of port town Niigata, and its history and culture meet at the riverbank of Shinano River. A small journey around Niigata Port filled with an air of exoticism.

Niigata Port was designated as one of the five ports (five ports including Niigata, Hakodate, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki) to open by Ansei Treaties and opened in 1868. In 2019, Niigata port celebrated its 150^th anniversary since opening door to abroad. Currently Niigata Port is comprised by two ports, Niigata West Port and Niigata East Port. Originally Niigata Port was opened by utilizing the estuary of Shinano River, but this port in Shinano River is called Niigata West Port and treats both passengers and cargos. Also, the area around Niigata West Port is a port town from old time, and in Edo era, it was flourished as the largest port of call of Kitamae-Bune in the Japan Sea coast. There are also many sightseeing spots. On the other hand, Niigata East Port is built exclusively for cargo ships in 1969 by digging the coast. It mainly treats container cargos from foreign countries. In Niigata West Port, three are three ferry terminals, the Sado route connecting the mainland of Niigata Prefecture and Sado Island, the route connecting Kansai, Niigata and Hokkaido, and the international freight. By the way, the route connecting Niigata West Port to Sado Island (Ryotsu Port) and the route connecting Sado Island (Ogi Port) to Naoetu Port (Joetsu City) are called “National highway on the sea”. About 49km in Sado Island and 145km in the sea area from Niigata West Port via Sado Island to Naoetsu Port is National Route 350. Bandai Bridge is a beautiful bridge with granite and six arches and it cross over Shinano River, National Route7. It is the first bridge built on Shinano River in Niigata City, and the first bridge was completed in 1886. The current bridge is the third incarnation and completed in 1929. Its high architectural technique and design were praised and it was designated as a national important cultural property in 2004. This is the second bridge over the national highway designated as a national important cultural property after Nihonbashi in Tokyo. In the nighttime, usually there is the light in warm color from the bridge side but you can enjoy various kind of light ups depending on the event. On the banks of Shinano River, “Bandai Bridge sunset cafe” opens every year for only limited time. Former Niigata Custom House was built in 1869 to be in custom duties as Niigata Port opened, and it was used until 1966. The office building of Former Niigata Custom House was built by Japanese carpenters in the early Meiji era and called “Giyofu architecture”, means “mimicked Western-style architecture” in English. Its feature is outwardly resembled Western-style architecture but built with traditional Japanese building techniques. It incorporated Western style design such as a roof made of red clay tiles, Namako wall (wall design remind people of sea cucumber), arch shaped entrance, penthouse etc. This is only custom office building exists since 5 ports opened, and its building is designated as a national important cultural property and the building site is designated as a historic landmark. Niigata City History Museum exhibits the history and folklore of Niigata City with the theme of “History of regional water and people”. The appearance of the museum is based on the second Western style of Niigata City Hall government building, and it is popularly known as “MINATOPIA” from the location facing to Shinano River and Niigata West Port. Minato in Japanese means a port. Centered on Former Niigata Custom House exiting as it was since opening of pots, developed town space integrally with Former Daishi Bank Sumiyoshi-cho Branch which moved and restored, restored Hayakawa canal and the row of willow trees, etc. It reproduced the landscape of port town Niigata filled with an air of atmosphere from Meiji to Showa era. In addition, you can see the ferries heading to Sado and Hokkaido up close and it is a sightseeing spot together with “Toki Messe” on the opposite shore. It lights up until 22 o’clock every night. Toki Messe is a nickname for a 31-storey tower building with 4-storey convention center, hotels and museum in Shinano River coast area (Niigata West Port). From the observation room on 31th floor, you can see 360 degree is at a height of 125 m above the ground. You can look down the center of Niigata City, Shinano River, Bandai Bridge, etc. and Sado Island and Mt. Goto can be seen in the distance. Also, its night view from the observation room is selected as “Night view 100 selection” and the observation room is open until 22 o’clock for free (It will close at 17 o’clock only on Friday). There is a former Niigata prefectural assembly hall in the left bank of Shinano River next to Hakusan park. This is the only existing building as an assembly hall in the early Meiji era and it is designated as a national important cultural property. Like Former Niigata Custom House, it built by “Gi-yofu architecture (Quasi-Western-style architecture)” and it has fashionable atmosphere of peculiar to the period of civilization and enlightenment. It was completed in 1883 and used until 1930. You can visit inside of the building for free. Its highlight is a meeting room with balcony. You can actually go in there and enjoy the atmosphere of Meiji era. Also, Hakusan Park is one of the first urban parks opened in Japan during Meiji era, and is designated as the scenic spot of the country. This is a former villa of Saito family of three major financial group of Niigata. It was built in Taisho era as a guest use for Saito family. Originally, family business of Saito family was wholesaler of sake, but in Meiji era, they started management of Kitamae-Bune and made a fortune. It gorgeous garden is designed to enjoy panoramic view from the inside, and you can enjoy looking around by walking inside the garden. The garden is designated as the scenic spot of the country. Also, at a former villa of Saito family, events that you can experience Ozashiki-Asobi (playing games with Geisha) of “Furumachi Geigi (Furumachi Geisha)” regularly.

Access to Toki Messe

From Tokyo

It takes about 2 hours by Joetsu Shinkansen from JR Tokyo Station to JR Niigata Station and get off at JR Niigata Station. It takes about 15 minutes from Niigata Station Bus Terminal to Toki Messe Bus Stop.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour from Itami Airport to Niigata Airport. It takes about 25 minutes from Niigata Airport to JR Niigata Station by airport shuttle bus. It takes about 15 minutes from Niigata Station Bus Terminal to Toki Messe Bus Stop. Alternatively, it takes about 25 minutes by airport shuttle bus from Niigata Airport to Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal. About 10 minute-walk from Sado Kisen.

2019/04/24
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Even if you are not a fanatic, you must go there before you die! Kids will absolutely be love it! I visited “Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum!”

Fukui Prefecture is called “Dinosaur Kingdom” because many dinosaur fossils are excavated. In Fukui Prefecture, there are many dinosaur spots that both children and adults can enjoy, such as monuments of dinosaur, dinosaur theme parks, a dinosaur museum and dinosaur fossil quarry. A huge moving monument of dinosaurs are set up at the West Exit Station Square (its nickname is Dinosaur Square) of JR Fukui Station. There are three full-scale reproductions of dinosaur lived in Fukui, Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus and Fukuititan. The largest one is Fukuititan and its height is about 6 m. The dinosaurs start moving 25 times a day every half hour from 9:00 to 21:00. They are lit up every day from sunset to 23:00. On the wall of Fukui station, dinosaur wall painting and 3D trick-art that dinosaurs seem to come out from the wall are set. In JR Fukui Station, “Dr. Dinosaur”, a character of “Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum” sits on a long chair called “Dinobench”. In addition to JR Fukui Station, Dinobench is also installed at JR Awara Onsen Station and JR Tsuruga Station. Dr. Dinasaur used Fukuiraptor as a motif. In Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture, many dinosaur fossils have been excavated since 1980s. Near the dinosaur quarry, there is a dinosaur theme park called “Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest”. In the vast park, there are many facilities and attractions related to dinosaurs, such as the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, a square with dinosaur-motived playground equipment is very popular, a facility where you can experience excavating fossils, and a display of full-scale dinosaur monuments. At “Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum”, fossils of 5 new species excavated in Katsuyama City, 3 reconstructed skeletons and 44 dinosaur full-body skeletons are displayed. “Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum” is regarded as one of the three major dinosaur museums in the world together with Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Canada and Zigong Dinosaur Museum in China. On the roof of Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, there is also Dr. Dinosaur sits on “Dinobench”. There is “Katsuyama Dino Park” next to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. This park features moving and roaring 43 life-size dinosaurs such as 43m long Mamenchisaurus and 13m long Tyrannosaurus. This place is also very popular to take photogenic pictures for your SNS. You can take a bus from Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum for about 15 minutes and you will find a field station for dinosaur quarry. The field station is a largest dinosaur quarry in Japan where still excavating dinosaur fossils. You can learn the actual excavation work and you can also experience fossil excavation by your own. The bones and teeth of Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus are excavated at this dinosaur quarry and it is designated as a natural monument of Japan. *You can also experience fossil excavation at “Katsuyama Dino Park”

Access to the Dinosaur Museum

[Railway]

From Tokyo

It takes about 3 hours from JR Tokyo Station to JR Fukui Station by Hokuriku Shinkansen.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes from JR Osaka Station to JR Tsuruga Station by JR Tokaido Main Line (limited express). Transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at JR Tsuruga Station and get to JR Fukui Station in about 15 minutes.

[Airplane]

It takes about 1 hour from Haneda Airport to Komatsu Airport. It takes about 60 minutes from Komatsu Airport to JR Fukui Station by airport shuttle bus.

At JR Fukui Station, transfer to Echizen Railway Fukui Station (Katsuyama Eiheiji Line) to Katsuyama Station in about 60 minutes. It takes about 15 minutes from Katsuyama Station to the Dinosaur Museum by shuttle bus.

2023/08/13
Niigata Furumachi Geigi (Niigata Geisha）

Great news for those longing for the high social class! With amount of high school student’s earning money from a part time job, you can enjoy delicious cuisine at Niigata’s long established restaurant and experience Ozashiki Asobi (playing games with Geisha) with Niigata Geisha.

Furumachi Geigi in Niigata is one of the three major Geisha in Japan along with Gion in Kyoto, Shinbashi in Tokyo. Furumachi Geigi has more than 200 years of tradition and one of the representative culture of port town Niigata. Between the middle of Edo period to Meiji era, Niigata was a port town flourished as a port of call of Kitamae-bune in the Japan Sea coast because it has the largest production of rice in Japan. People gathered from all over Japan, restaurants to entertain visitors are lined and “Hanamachi(fleshpot)” where people can enjoy the dance of “Geigi” at Japanese-style drawing room was born. There were 300 Geigi in active at peak. Geisha and Geigi have the same meaning in Japanese. In Niigata, Geisha is generally called as “Geigi”, however, in particular the Geigi who is able to do her own business (expert) is called “Tomesode” and the apprentice is called “Furisode”. Originally both Tomesode and Furisode are one of the way of calling kimono, but sleeve length of Tomesode is short and mainly used as ceremonial dresses for married or older women. Its usage is corresponding to Western evening dress. Furisode is a kimono with long sleeve and unmarried or young women wear. By the way in Kyoto, Geisha is called as “Geiko” and the apprentice is called “Maiko”. It is said that “Geigi” is a form of address for a Geisha who is skilled and educated. Also, Geigi is parted as “Tachikata” (those who dance) and “Jikata” (those who sing or play the Shamisen) by role. In order to perform songs and shamisen by her own, long term training is needed, so in Furumachi Geigi, skilled Geigi will be in charge of Jikata. You can experience Ozashiki Asobi of Furumachi Geigi. At periodical events, such as “Jin of Niigata meal” held in summer and winter, you can appreciate the dance of Furumachi Geigi while dining at the first-class restaurant. Since it is a low-price setting, it will be the best event for people who have never experienced Ozashiki Asobi. Even at the former Saito family’s villa, there are also regular events held and you can experience Ozashiki Asobi (playing games with Geisha) of Furumachi Geigi. The former Saito family’s villa is a reception house of Saito family that was the three-major zaibatsu of Niigata and it was built in Taisho era. There is a Japanese garden not only viewable from the inside, but you can also enjoy it by walking around, it is also designated as National Scenic Beauty.

Access to former Saito Family’s Villa

From Tokyo

About 2 hours by Joetsu Shinkansen from JR Tokyo Station to JR Niigata Station and get off at Niigata Station. It takes about 10 minutes from Niigata Station Bus Terminal to Nishiohata Bus Stop by local bus (Hamauracho Line). Get off at Nishiohata Bus Stop and walk for about 5 minutes.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour from Itami Airport to Niigata Airport. It takes about 25 minutes from Niigata Airport to Niigata Station by airport shuttle bus.

2019/04/23
Noroma Ningyo dolls, the puppet-shows handed down on Sado Island

Noroma Ningyo, the puppets of simpleton, is a humorous puppet performed in Sado dialect. The stock scene is the leading character always get naked and pissed at there. It is funny no matter how many times you watch it.

In Sado Island of Niigata prefecture, puppet-shows were actively performed since the middle of Edo period (18^th century). It was also the time when Sado Island was flourished for Sado Gold Mine. There are three puppet-shows called “Sekkyo Ningyo”, “Noroma Ningyo” and “Bunya Ningyo ” and also they are all designated as important intangible folk-cultural properties. Among them, Noroma Ningyo is a light and funny comedy play using Sado’s old dialect, which was performed between the program of Sekkyo Ningyo. The stories are simple, humorous and a little bit erotic.

The characters are four puppets. From left side, a good-natured man “Shimo no Choja (millionaire)”, a woman wantonly fond of men “Ohana”, an honest but foolish “Kinosuke” and a grabby and mean “Busshi (A Buddha statue maker)”. There are plays such as “Ikijizou (a living Jizo stone statue)”, “Gorinbotoke (A big five Buddha)”, “Soba farm”, “Ohana’s marriage” and “Visiting parent’s house”, however in any endings, Kinosuke, who is the leading character get completely naked and urinated. Some audience even look forward to see that scene as it gets close.

The representative performance is ”Ikijizou”. When Shimo no Choja leaves for a pilgrimage in Shikoku, his wife Hana asked him to buy ikijizou as her souvenir. On the way to Shikoku, Shimo no Choja visits Busshi in Kyoto and orders ikijizou for 25 ryou. A cunning Busshi arranges Kinosuke, who lives next door, to be Ikijizou, and then passed Kinosuke as Ikijizou to Simo no Chojya who came back from Shikoku Pilgrimage. On the way back, Shimo no Choja begins to have a discussion with Jizou, but Shimo no Choja becomes suspicious of Ikijizou’s answers and chased him around. At the ending, Kinosuke is completely naked and urinated there.

It is said that Sado Island’s Sekkyo Ningyo and Noroma Ningyo started in the middle of Edo period (18^th century). A nobility of Kyoto gave instruction in puppet-shows and people of Sado Island bought a complete set of puppet and brought them back home.

“Sekkyo” of Sekkyo Ningyo means the priest expostulate the meaning of Buddhist scripture. And with a melody, this is called “Sekkyo bushi(Sekkyo melody)”. Sekkyo Ningyo is the puppet-shows in which a performer plays a shamisen, and tells buddhist-stories with inflection about encouraging good people and good deeds and punishing bad people and bad deeds. This is old form of Ningyo Joruri (puppet play).

Since Sado Island is an isolated island, it seems Sekkyo Ningyo did not influenced from other puppet-shows and never mixed with arrangements or fashion in it. It is said that it still remains in the form which is close to the time when it was transmitted at first time. As you can find the description of Noroma Ningyo in Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s essay, “Noroma Ningyo”, it remained in Tokyo from the end of Edo period till Taisho era as a party performance of wealthy people, but now it disappeared at all, and Sado Island is the only place perform this show.

Bunya Ningyo is a Ningyo Joruri (puppet play) that Sekkyo Ningyo of Sado Island and “Bunya bushi” are mixed in early Meiji era. “Bunya bushi” was one school of popular old Joruri in Osaka in the latter half of the 17^th century. Its melody has characteristic mournful sound and it is also called as crying bushi. Since Bunya melody of Sado Island was handed down among blind people, it is said that it left in the form that close to founder’s talk.

Puppet dolls for Sekkyo Ningyo, Noroma Ningyo and Bunya Ningyo are exhibited at Niibo Museum of History and Folklore.

Access to Niibo Museum of History and Folklore

From Tokyo

It takes about 2 hours from JR Tokyo Station to JR Niigata Station by Joetsu Shinkansen. It takes about 15 minutes by local bus from JR Niigata Station to Niigata Port.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour from Itami Airport to Niigata Airport. It takes about 25 minutes by shuttle bus from Niigata Airport to Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal.

From Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal to Sado Kisen Ryotsu Port Terminal, it takes about 1 hour by jetfoil and about 2 hours and 30 minutes by car ferry.

It takes about 20 minutes from Ryotsu Port Sado Kisen Bus Stop to Niiho Yubinkyoku-mae Bus Stop by local bus (south line). Get off at Niiho Yubinkyoku-mae Bus Stop and walk for about 5 minutes.

2019/04/20
Kobudai from Sado Island that appeared in the film “Oceans”

The friendly “Kobudai”, the Asian sheepshead wrasse that appeared in the film “Oceans” lives in Sado Island. When I saw them in the film, I suddenly want to dive in the sea of Sado Island.

The sea of Sado Island is beautiful and its offshore is rich in many kinds of fishes because the warm current, Tsushima Current and the cold current, Liman Current run together at there. It is very popular as a diving spot because sometimes you can see fishes from the north and south together. The must-see fish will be the Asian sheepshead wrasse inhabits the sea of Sado Island. Currently among the Asian sheepshead wrasse which can be found in the sea of Sado Island, the largest one is around 80cm. In spite of its appearance, the Asian sheepshead wrasse is very nervous and it is unique point of Sado Island that you can see them swim leisurely in front of the divers.

When writing Asian sheepshead wrasse in Chinese character, it will be a bream (Tai/Dai) with a wen (Kobu), however, biologically they are a family of wrasse. They like to eat something hard, such as turban shells, oysters, crabs and shrimps. There are many Asian sheepshead wrasses in the Sea of Japan and Seto Island Sea. Sado Island of Niigata prefecture is the northeast habitat of the Sea of Japan. As they grow up, they transform their gender from female to male. When they complete their transformations, the wens are bulged out and also their jaws are stuck out. They are strongly territorial fishes. The length of the male body can be reach about 80 cm and for the large one, it will exceed 1m. Female of Asian sheepshead wrasse is called Kandai, and it is considerably smaller than males. Female do not have bulged wens like male and their body length are about half of that males, so in the past, it was considered as a different fish from Asian sheepshead wrasse.

The Asian sheepshead wrasse of Sado Island became popular because of the French film” Oceans” showed in Japan in 2010. This film introduced that two Asian sheepshead wrasses which exceed 1m length dispute about their territories hardly. Those two Asian sheepshead wrasses are inhabited the red rocks located the offshore of Kitakoura village of Sado Island and among divers of Sado, they are called as “Dekoppachi” and “Gorby”. Dekkopachi means head with a wide forehead. Dekoppachi came to the reign as a boss for about 20 years in this red rocks. He has unique huge wen just like Musashibo Benkei who is a famous Japanese warrior monk wearing a hood, so he was popular with the name of “Benkei” rather than Dekoppachi. The origin of the name “Gorby” is because the birthmark on Gorby’s forehead is similar to that of President Gorbachev of the former Soviet Union.

Since the red rocks at the offshore of Kitakoura is rich in food, its territory has been fought with Benkei and Gorby which was No.2 of this offshore. Just like breaking the shore reefs, Benkei lives in the side which has more food and Gorby lives in the opposite side. For a long time, they have been fought as rivals, however in the autumn and winter of 2012, both of them disappeared. It seems that both of them died of old ages, and it is considered that the age of Benkei and Gorby was around 30-40 years old. In the summer of 2013, divers of Sado Island gathered and held a “farewell party” for Benkei and Gorby.

After their death, a new boss who took over the territory of Benkei and his name was “Yamato”. This is because his powerful face look like the captain of the cartoon “Space Battleship Yamato”. And paying the respect to the former boss, the divers of Sado Island decided to use the name of “Benkei” as a general name of male Asian sheepshead wrasses of Sado Island.

The Asian sheepshead wrasse is a very nervous fish, so if they have divers around, they will swim away. However, the Asian sheepshead wrasse in the offshore of Kitakoura, Sado Island came close to the divers when they are around. This is because the divers of Sado Island have been feeding them patiently for a long time.

Access to Kitakoura

From Tokyo

It takes about 2 hours from JR Tokyo Station to JR Niigata Station by Joetsu Shinkansen. It takes about 15 minutes by local bus from JR Niigata Station to Niigata Port.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour from Itami Airport to Niigata Airport. It takes about 25 minutes by shuttle bus from Niigata Airport to Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal.

From Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal to Sado Kisen Ryotsu Port Terminal, it takes about 1 hour by jetfoil and about 2 hours and 30 minutes by car ferry.

From Ryotsu Port Sado Kisen Bus Stop to Kitakoura Bus Stop it takes about 50 minutes by local bus (Main Line).

2019/04/20
Tarai Bune (Tarai boat)

It happens with sightseeing in Sado Island – It takes 100 minutes from Niigata to Sado Island by high-speed boat, but if you are good at rowing a Tarai Bune boat, you will want to get carried away and row home –

Tarai Bune (Tarai boat) is the icon of Sado Island in Niigata prefecture. It’s a famous round shape boat so popular that there are people who visit Sado Island from nationwide just to take Tarai Bune. In this page, I’ll explain about famous & popular Tarai Bune.

Tarai Bune was originally used to fish Turbo cornutu, abalone, octopus and seaweed only in Ogi beach of Sado Island and is still used for fishery. Ogi beach has complex reef making it difficult for a traditional fishing ship to enter. People used washing tub and improved it into “Tarai Bune” with shallow bottom that can turns easily.

You can ride on Tarai Bune at Ogi port and Yajima/Kyojima. Tarai Bune for tourist is made a little bigger compared to that of fishermen and 11 adults can ride. When the boatman rows, the Tarai Bune would advance easily but if you try, you will know that it requires technique and if you row just with power, the Tarai Bune would just go round and round without advancing. In order to advance the Tarai Bune, you have to row in the shape of number 8 and the shape of Kanji 8 when going backward.

In Sado Island, there exists a sad folk tale abut Tarai Bune. Oben, a daughter of fisherman in Sado Island, fell in love with Tokichi, a boat carpenter. After Tokichi finished his job in Sado Island, Oben rowed Tarai Bune every night to see Tokichi in Kashiwazaki in Kashiwazaki. Though Tokichi was happy at first, since he had wife and children, he started to feel annoyed after a while. He no longer wanted her to come so he put out the lighthouse. Without the light, Oben went lost in the ocean and never returned. Tokichi regretted deeply and said to have killed himself by jumping into the ocean. The Rokyoku “Sado Jyowa (Love story of Sado Island)” sing about this tragedy.

In 2007, there was an event related to this “Sado Jyowa”. 3 young ladies of the island in their 20s crossed from Ogi port of Sado Island to Kashiwazaki port for about 60km over 19 hours by rowing Tarai Bune and it gained attention.

In the bay of Ogi beach where you can ride Tarai Bune, there stand 2 islands called “Yajima/Kyojima”. According to “Heike Monogatari”, at the end of Heian period, there was a monster with black smoke and weird cry who come to Kyoto palace every night and the Emperor fainted with nightmare. Yorimasa Minamoto was ordered to get rid of this monster and he killed the monster with an arrow. This monster was called “Nue” with face of monkey, body of Japanese raccoon, limb of tiger and tail of snake. The arrow used to get the monster was made with bamboo of this island so the island started to be called “Yajima (arrow island)”.

“Kyojima” was the island where Nichiro, the Buddhist disciple holding release order of Saint Nichiren who was banished to Sado Island, drifted ashore after the storm, and since he spent the night reading Kyo (Sutra), it’s now called “Kyojima (Sutra island)”.

Yajima/Kyojima, these 2 islands are connected with vivid red arched bridge so you can enjoy a beautiful scenery while riding on Tarai Bune.

Access to Tarai Bune Boat Boarding Area

From Tokyo

It takes about 2 hours from JR Tokyo Station to JR Niigata Station by Joetsu Shinkansen. It takes about 15 minutes by local bus from JR Niigata Station to Niigata Port.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour from Itami Airport to Niigata Airport. It takes about 25 minutes by shuttle bus from Niigata Airport to Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal.

From Sado Kisen Niigata Port Terminal to Sado Kisen Ryotsu Port Terminal, it takes about 1 hour by jetfoil and about 2 hours and 30 minutes by car ferry.

Ogi Port Tarai Bune Boat Boarding Area

From Ryotsu Port Sado Kisen Bus Stop to Sawata Bus Station it takes about 45 minutes by local bus (main line). At Sawata Bus Station, transfer to a local bus (Ogi line), it takes about 1 hour to Ogi bus stop, get off at Ogi bus stop and walk 5 minutes.

Yajima Kyojima Tarai Bune Boat Boarding Area

At Sawata Bus Station, transfer to a local bus (Ogi line), it takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to Yajima-Yuen bus stop, get off at Yajima-Yuen bus stop and walk about 5 minutes.

2019/04/19
Mt. Osore (Osorezan)

A hell tour, tower of stones and colorful pinwheels etc…and there’s smell of sulfur is drifting around. Mt. Osore(Oserezan) of Aomori is so amazing!

At the northern end of the main island, Shimokita Peninsula, that Aomori Prefecture is located, there is a sacred place called “Mt.Osore (Osorezan)” where souls of the dead will gather. It was opened about 1,200 years ago. There is no single mountain called “Mt.Osore”, but this is a generic name for the eight mountains surrounded Lake Usoriyama and lake itself. In Buddhism, it is said that the souls of dead cross the Styx and enter the world after death called Anoyo (next world). There are places named as “Sanzu no Kawa (the Styx)”, “Jigoku (the Hell)” and “Gokuraku (the Paradise)” in Mt.Osore. Also, the smell of sulfur is filled the whole neighborhood of Mt.Osore, so the atmosphere and scenery is just like “the world after death”. The red arched bridge crossed over the Styx (Sanzu no Kawa) is the entrance of Mt.Osore (Osorezan). The Styx (Sanzu no Kawa) has been considered a legendary river at the boundary between the real world and the world after death for long time. It is said that good people can cross the bridge, but bad people cannot cross the bridge and they have to cross the river by themselves. In Mt.Osore, people call Shozu River flowing from Lake Usoriyama as the Styx. There is a place called “Sai no Kawara(Children’s Limbo)” around Lake Usoriyama. In Children’s Limbo(Sai no Kawara), children who died earlier than their parents without doing filial duty are piling stones up while apologizing to their parents. When the tower of stones is completed, those children are released, but since the demon comes and breaks the tower, it is said that they have to pile stones forever. There is a hot spring in Mt.Osore (Osorezan). There are 4 hot spring huts and you can take a bath for free if you pay the entrance fee of the mountain. All hot springs are 100% free-flowing hot spring. You can find 3 hot spring huts immediately after entering the temple gate, but the other one is located in the right in back and behind the hospice. It is also out of the route to go worship, so it may be a little confusing. Originally, hot spring huts was a facility to take a hot bath to purify oneself before the worship, and everyone took bath at there in the past. The hot-spring hut in the outskirts of the mountain is a mixed bath Speaking of Mt.Osore (Osorezan), “Itako’s Kuchiyose (spiritualism by shaman)” is popular. Blind shrine maiden (spiritualist) called Itako tells the voice of dead such as ancestors, family members and close friends to people left behind. Itako is not permanently stationed at Mt.Osore, but they enters the mountain during “Osorezan Taisai Festival” which will be held from July 20 to 24 every year, and “Aki Mairi(worship in autumn)” to be held in three consecutive holidays in early October. There used to be 300 of Itako in the past, but now, there are less than 10 of them. The white sand beach on the lake side of Lake Usoriyama is “Gokuraku hama (paradise beach)”. This is the location that when you cross the Styx (Sanzu no Kawa), and go further, there will be the paradise. The lake is abnormally transparent because the volcanic gas dissolves into the water and level of acidic range is high. It is a lake where almost no living things inhabit.

Access to Mt. Osore (Osorezan)

It takes about 3 hours from JR Tokyo Station to JR Hachinohe Station by Tohoku Shinkansen. Transfer to the Aoimori Railway Line at JR Hachinohe Station and it takes about 1 hour to get to Aoimori Railway Noheji Station. Transfer to JR Ominato Line at Aoimori Railway Noheji Station, 1 hour to JR Shimokita Station. Get off at JR Shimokita Station and from JR Shimokita Station it takes about 40 minutes by local bus to Mt.Osore (Osorezan.)

2023/06/05