Miyagi Zao and Shiroishi are home to tourist attractions such as Atago Shrine, Nippon Paper, and Atago Shrine, tourist events such as the Oni-Kojuro Festival, Natsukoshi Festival, and Shiroishi Castle Cherry Blossom Festival, and local delicacies such as harako-meshi, macaroons, and Zao cheese.
Miyagi Zao Town is located in the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture and extends to the foot of the Zao Mountain Range. The Zao mountain range is part of the Ou Mountains and is called Karitamine or Mt. The Zao mountain range is located on the border between Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures, and the main peak is Kumanodake, located on the Yamagata side. Because the Zao mountain range is a volcano, numerous hot springs are located at the foot of the mountain, and many ski resorts are known as Zao's ski resorts.
For this reason, the ski slopes are one of the main tourist attractions, and the hot spring resort area there is Miyagi Zao's tourist style. The main hot springs on the Miyagi side include Togatta Hot Springs, Aone Hot Springs and Togatta Hot Springs, where night skiing is also very popular.
One of the best places to visit in Miyagi Zao is the only state-run park in the Tohoku region, the National Michinoku Morino Lakeside Park, located on the shores of Lake Kamabusa at the foot of Mt. The park is blessed with abundant water and greenery, and is well known as a place where visitors can experience the climate and culture of the Tohoku region.
The park is popular for its Furusato Village tour, a collection of old houses representing the six prefectures of the Tohoku region. The newly opened new area, Kaze no meadow in the north district, has a multi-purpose court and a dog run.
Sai-no-hiroba is a large flowerbed with tulips in spring, marigolds and salvia in summer, and pansies and violas in winter. Children and adults alike can enjoy the lakeside plaza, game plaza, and Warasuko plaza, while the Toki no Hiroba has real ammonite fossils and the multipurpose hall "Furu Furu" offers hands-on crafts at its workshop. In addition, there is a plaza called Kaze no mebara (windy meadow).
In terms of sightseeing in Miyagi Zao, there is the Zao Dairy Center, which produces and sells cheese using fresh milk from cows raised in the Nanokaibara Plateau.
Shiroishi City, a castle town nestled in the mountains of Zao, is a city with many historical sites and famous hot springs such as Kamasaki Onsen and Obara Onsen, and a tour of hot spring towns such as Togatta Onsen and Aone Onsen is also an enjoyable sightseeing experience. Shiroishi Castle, located in the center of Shiroishi City, is one of the few structures in Japan that has been restored using wooden construction and has become a symbol of Shiroishi City.
The rows of cherry blossoms in the "Ichimoku-senbon-zakura" (one thousand cherry trees) are a must-see during the cherry blossom season. The early spring color contrast between the rows of cherry trees and the snow-capped Zao mountain range is magnificent, and the area has been selected as one of the 100 best places for cherry blossom viewing.
The only national park in Tohoku located on the lakeside of Kamabusa Dam. The park is divided into three areas: the "South Area" with large flowerbeds and flower gardens, large playground equipment, and old houses from six prefectures in Tohoku; the "North Area" with campgrounds, a dog run, and various sports facilities; and the "Satoyama Area" where visitors can experience the nature and culture ...»
Shiroishi Castle was the southern strategic point of the Sendai domain until it was dismantled in 1874. After the Battle of Sekigahara, the castle was the residence of the Katakura clan, the chief vassal of the Date family, for more than 260 years until the Meiji Restoration. Also known as Masuoka Castle. In memory of the great deeds of KATAKURA Kojuro Kagetsuna, the famous one-armed man of Date ...»
The Saito family, a wealthy merchant who flourished in Marumorimachi for seven generations from the Edo period to the Showa period, left their valuable architectural structures, costumes, art works, and other items to the museum's collection, which is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. The museum also holds various seasonal events such as "Dragon Boat Festival," "Saito's New Year...»
Funaoka Joshi Park, selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan, is known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Tohoku, and is the former residence of the Shibata clan until the Meiji Restoration. Today, the 305-meter-long "Shibata-cho Funaoka Joshi Park Slope Car," which runs through a tunnel of cherry blossoms, is a popular tourist attraction as it allows v...»
More than 100 foxes roam free in the park at the foot of Mt.In addition to the well-known foxes, six other fox species, including silver foxes, arctic foxes, and platinum foxes, play freely in the park, making for a spectacular sight. The ability to feed them from designated areas is also popular. In addition to foxes, the park also has rabbits, goats, ponies, and other animals that visitors can e...»
One of the samurai residences along the street that retains the atmosphere of Shiroishi Castle has been dismantled and repaired, and is now open to the public. The samurai residences remain along Sawabata River to the north of Shiroishi Castle. The former Koseki house is the residence of a middle class family, and the inside of the house is open for tours. It is confirmed that the house was buil...»
Takekoma-jinja Shrine, one of Japan's three Inari shrines, was founded in 842 (Jouwa 9). The shrine enshrines the gods of clothing, food, and shelter, and attracts many worshippers. It has a two-story tower gate (Zuijimon Gate) and a Chinese-style gate built in the Edo period (1603-1867). Takekoma Shrine is said to have been built in the Heian period (794-1185) and is one of the three Shinto shri...»
The center manufactures and sells cream cheese, natural cheese, dairy drinks, etc., including Zao Cheese, which is born from Zao's vast natural bounty. Inside the Cheese Cabin facility, visitors can sample cream cheese and see many cheese products on display. There is also a cheese restaurant and a snack facility on the same premises where visitors can enjoy soft-serve ice cream and cheesecake. ...»
Zao Heartland is a vast ranch of about 100 hectares (20 times the size of Tokyo Dome) where cows and sheep are raised. Inside the ranch, there is a corner where visitors can directly interact with animals, "Wind Square," a coffee shop serving cheese dishes, "Wind Deck," a Genghis Khan house, and a handcrafting experience center (reservations required). In addition, there is a Zao cheese souvenir...»