Miyagi Osaki Tourism Bureau

The Naruko Onsen region has been revered as a hot spring resort since ancient times. An abundance of hot spring water springs from a wide area, and each facility has its own charm and source, and is famous for each spring having its own unique qualities. Despite the inns all being within close proximity, it is not uncommon for the quality to differ, so visitors are able to enjoy a different hot spring experience depending on the particular inn they are staying at. That is one of Naruko's great features.
There are many theories regarding the origin of the name "Naruko (or Narugo"). One theory is that a when a nearby mountain, Mt Katayama, erupted, it made a big sound and hot water gushed from the hot springs. In Japanese, the word "naru" means to make a sound.

This crater became the beautiful turquoise caldera lake "Katanuma". Here, you can enjoy the scenery while walking around, and there are also classes to learn how to ride and SUP (Stand-up paddle board). As well as this, there are other sports facilities, such as skiing at Okikobe and hang gliding.

Every year, the peak tourism period is the autumn foliage season. Naruko Gorge, Lake Katanuma, and the area surrounding Naruko Dam each offer unique landscapes to enjoy.

When it comes to traditional crafts, Naruko Kokeshi Dolls and Naruko lacquerware are famous. As well as purchasing them as souvenirs, you can also paint them with your own unique design. Why not take home an original Kokeshi doll as a keepsake for your trip?

In the Iwadeyama area, there once was the "Iwadeyama Castle". It was where Date Masamune lived before relocating to Sendai Castle. While the castle no longer exists, the building built at the time, Samura Academy "Sendai han no hankou", Yubikan, is still standing.

Retaining its charm as a former castle town, the townscape is recommended to be enjoyed as a walking course, where you can enjoy such attractions as the Kankaku Museum - Museum of the Senses, the Bamboo Craft Museum and the former Yubikan and its gardens.
Bamboo crafts are thriving in this region, and in yesteryear, it was often customary for women who came from other areas to marry to learn how to make baskets and strainers out of bamboo. Visitors can see how these crafts were made by watching live demonstrations, and also try their hand at making them themselves!

While on the walking course, visitors may find their gaze drawn to the Uchikawa River that flows through the town. It is a moat of the Iwadeyama Castle that serves a significant role as a river and agricultural waterway. It was an essential requirement for the Osaki region to be recognized as a Global Agricultural Heritage System.

The National Route 47, near the JR Iketsuki Station, is home to "ALA-DATENA, Michi-no-Eki", known as one of the most popular roadside stations throughout all of Japan. It is always full of visitors due to its offering direct from the farm produce, agricultural goods, restaurants, specialty shops and other vendors.

The Iwadeyama Castle was the residence of the Iwadeyama clan until the Meiji Restoration. When the fourth clan leader, Date Murayasu, visited Kyoto, it is said that he found the manju (a bun filled with sweet red bean paste) there so delicious that he brought the artisan back with him and had him make the manju back in Iwadeyama.
The closely guarded recipe has been passed down through generations; these buns have been made under the name Sake manju and have been a very popular delicacy in Iwadeyama.

The Eai River once flowed through the Furukawa area, but after repeated floodings, the course of the river was artificially moved out of harm's way. Settlements were formed along where the river once flowed, and because the river was no longer there, it is said that the area was named "furui kawa", lit. Old River. Despite the river course being changed, waterway, riverbed and banks still remain, and it is called the "Odaegawa River", which means "disconnected river". It is said that the river got its name because the "o" in Odaegawa means "soul" or "thread" and the "dae" means to lose something. Another theory as to how the river got its name is that the mythical princess Shiratama-hime tragically drowned herself in the river after having her heart broken.

Currently, there are fifteen Wisteria trellises installed along the Odaegawa River. It is a popular tourist spot.

One of the leading figures of the Taisho Democracy movement, Yoshino Sakuzo, was born in Furukawa. His achievements are highlighted at the Yoshino Sakuzo Memorial Museum. The site of his birthplace is monumentalized in the city center.

The center of the rice-producing Osaki is Furukawa, and its original rice variety, "Sasanishiki", is favored among sushi restaurants. The variety, "Tohoku 194" is a hybrid species developed at the Furukawa Agricultural Experiment Station, from the aforementioned "Sasanishiki" for its superior taste and "Hitomebore" for its ease of cultivation. The hybrid variety was cultivated and shipped under the brandname "Sasayui" in 2015.

Furukawa is a key transportation hub, with Furukawa servicing the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Rikuu East Line, and it also functions as a bus terminal.

In the Sambongi area, lignite has been mined since ancient times and especially during wartime, as it was supplied as a valuable fuel in urban areas. Located along National Route 4, visitors can view materials from the peak lignite mining production at the "Sanbongi Lignite Memorial Museum."

Even now, hot springs flow through the lignite strata buried deep beneath the ground.
There are two day-trip hot spring spas that pride themselves on the soft, plant-derived hot spring water. At "Sanpouso", visitors can enjoy the pale yellow slightly carbonated water and at Hanaori-no-yu", visitors can enjoy the mild alkaline hot spring water.

Spanning six hectares, the "Sunflower Hill" is bustling with tourists who enjoy the over rapeseed blossoms in spring and 420 thousand sunflowers blooming in summer. Local specialties include sweets made from sunflower seeds and sunflower oil.

The soil in this region is perfect for growing "satoimo" or cocoyams, and although the yams have full texture, they are still soft and savory. The "Ibano Imo" vareity grown here is a rare specialty item due to the limited production volume.

In the Matsuyama area, there is an abundance of places where high-quality groundwater gushes, which is used for Japanese sake brewing at Ichinoso, which continues to produce high-quality products. In the same area, swordsmith Hokke Saburo, whose force and high-quality swordsmithing skills continue to the present day, however, the famous sword "Yamatoden" made by Hokke Saburo is also the name of the sake made at Ichinokura.
The delicious water of Matsuyama is also used to make "Sendai Miso Soy Sauce" at Wasabizawa factory.

Frank Nagai, a popular music guru of the Showa era, was born in the Matsuyama area. The "Frank Naganai Exhibition Room", located in the city center, commemorates his achievements.

In spring, Cherry Blossoms bloom at the Haguroyama Park (note; within Furukawa, there is a place that has the same name, but this park is not located within that area), and in autumn at Gohonmaru Park, visitors are attracted by the 23 varieties of and around 200 thousand cosmos bloom in the cosmos garden.

The Kashimadai and neighboring Matsushima Town used to be an area that was prone to flooding, and every time it would suffer heavy rainfall, it would become swampland. Built in the Edo Period, the "Genroku Tunnel" had deteriorated, and although there was a reclamation project planned, the costs had risen enough to become prohibitive, so the planned project was considered too difficult to continue with.
However, at that time, Kamata Sannosuke, also known at the time as the "Straw Sandal Village Chief", was instrumental in bringing the restoration project to completion. His legend has been told through generations, and he is respected within the local community. His achievements are exhibited at the "Kamata Memorial Hall".

Kamata Sannosuke was also a main factor in establishing the Kashimadai Mutual Market to promote development in the region.
The Kashimadai Mutual Market is held twice a year, in April and again in November, each lasting three days. The market spans one kilometer from the front of Kashimadai Station, and it features approximately 250 stalls, making it one of the largest of its kind in the region.

One more thing the region is famous for is the tomato. In particular, known under the brand "Delicious Tomato", the "Tamamitsu Tomato" variety has a rich flavor and a good balance between acidity and sweetness. However, it is difficult to cultivate. After years of research by a comittee of tomato producers, a more stable way of cultivating the variety was found. Currently, only six farms produce the tomato, including two corporations, "Delicious Farms" and "Marusen Farm".

Additionally, the smaller but more intensely sweet tomato variety "Toma Queen" (variety name: Furtica) is also widely known. These high quality tomatoes and products, such as juices are specialty items in hte Kashimadai region.

A "light-blocking figurine" from the late Jomon period was excavated from the Tajiri area and was designated to be of national cultural importance.
Currently, a replica is owned by the Tokyo National Museum, but a replica is on display at the Tajiri District Community Center and the "Koen-no-naka Roman-kan."
Additionally, the "Wooden Seated Statue of Senju Kannon", designated as Japanese item of cultural importance, was passed down as a principal image of the Komatsu Temple, a temple that fell into disuse in the early Meiji period, is on display at teh Tajiri General Branch Office.

The cherry blossoms at Mt Kagobo, otherwise known as "1000 Cherry Trees at a glance", are a massive draw for flower-viewing visitors in the spring. There are some 2000 cherry trees, and the color of the flowers at full bloom is a magnificent sight to behold. Since the summit of Mt Kagobo is largely unaffected by light pollution, it is a great spot for stargazing.

Kabukurinuma (Kabukuri Marsh) and the surrounding rice fields are designated as Ramsar Convention wetlands and serve as winter resting grounds for migratory birds.
In particular, of all the migratory bean geese that migrate to Japan, over 90% of them rest here, and in the peak season, those numbers can reach as high as 100,000. The birds taking off in the morning and roosting at sunset is quite the spectacle.

In order to prevent too many birds from gathering in one spot, the rice paddies are filled with water even in the winter. This initiative is called "winter flooded rice fields." By avoiding the use of pesticides and actively encouraging small animals to roam freely about, it is hoped that this will suppress weed germination.
Not only is this initiative not only recognized as a sustainable farming method in respect to biodiversity, but "Fuyumizutambo Rice" (the aforementioned "winter flooded rice fields" rice), is gaining many supporters among customers who seek safety and peace of mind when choosing their rice.