Naruko Onsen and Kurikoma are home to tourist attractions such as Zenkoji Temple, Tennoji Temple, and Naruko Onsen, tourist events such as the Donton Festival, Summer Festival, and Cosmos Festival, and local delicacies such as karinto, macarons, and beef tongue cider.
Naruko Onsen is located in Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is the center of the Naruko Onsen Hot Springs Village. Together with Iizaka Onsen in Fukushima Prefecture and Akiu Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture, Naruko Onsen is one of the three best hot springs in Oshu. The hot spring resort extends from in front of Naruko Onsen Station in the direction of Taki no Yu, parallel to National Route 47.
Taki no Yu is a public bathhouse located in the center of Naruko's hot spring resort, and is known as an old bathhouse with a thousand-year history as the sacred hot spring of the Naruko Onsen Shrine. Naruko Onsen has a variety of spring qualities, including sulfur spring, glauber's salt spring, sodium bicarbonate spring, and salt spring.
The area is also known as the birthplace of Naruko Kokeshi dolls, and Kokeshi doll stores and workshops can be found throughout the hot spring resort area.
Naruko Gorge is a sightseeing spot. The gorge is located in the Nakayamadaira Onsen district of Naruko Onsenkyo, and the contrast between the various shapes of rocks and the mountain stream is magnificent. The scenery is especially spectacular during the season of fresh green and autumn leaves. There is a walking trail along the river that takes about one hour to walk, and the view from there is truly spectacular.
Naruko Dam is the first arch-type dam built in Japan with a height of 95 meters and a width of 215 meters. There are many rest stops along the road along the dam lake, so getting out of the car and enjoying the scenery will be a good memory of sightseeing. The dam lake is covered by surrounding mountains, so the scenery of fresh green and autumn leaves reflected on the surface of the lake, especially at sunset when the light shines on the lake, is indescribably beautiful.
Kurikoma is a mountain that straddles Miyagi, Akita, and Iwate prefectures. It was named after the horse-shaped snowflake that appears on the western side of the summit in early summer. Kurikoma National Park is also a large mountain national park that spans Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, and Yamagata prefectures, and is a popular tourist spot.
Tome City is located in northern Miyagi Prefecture on the border with Iwate Prefecture. Municipally, the city is located in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture, between Kurihara City and Motoyoshi County, bordering on Iwate Prefecture, and is known for its rice production. The city is also known for the large number of migratory birds that come to Izunuma and Uchinuma swamps and the Sako River, which runs through the center of the city, in winter.
During your sightseeing in Tome City, take a look at the Museum of Education (former Tome High School Elementary School Building). This Western-style school building, built in 1888, is designated as a national cultural asset for its Greek-style column-head decoration technique, atrium-style entrance, and balcony on the front second floor.
Izunuma is a paradise for waterfowl, with the highest number of swans and geese in Japan, and is world famous as a habitat for migratory birds, a wetland designated under the Ramsar Convention.
Naruko Onsen is one of the most celebrated hot spring destinations in the Tohoku region of Japan. Located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, it is traditionally counted as one of the Three Famous Hot Springs of Oshu, together with Iizaka Onsen in Fukushima Prefecture and Akiu Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture. Surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park area, Naruko is known...»
Mount Kurikoma is a 1,626-meter-high mountain that stretches across Miyagi, Iwate, and Akita prefectures in northeastern Japan. Part of the Ou Mountains, it is surrounded by a rich natural environment and is included within the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park and the Kurikomayama–Tochigamori Forest Ecosystem Conservation Area. Mount Kurikoma is also recognized as one of Japan's 200 Famous Mountains ...»
Yakurai Garden is a spacious English-style garden located in Kami Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Open from spring through autumn, the garden covers approximately 150,000 square meters—about the size of three Tokyo Domes—and is home to around 400 varieties of flowers and herbs. Because the flowers change with the seasons, every visit offers a different landscape, color palette, and fragrance. Walking th...»
Naruko Gorge is a dramatic and beautiful gorge located in the Naruko Onsen area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. Part of the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park, the gorge is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by Miyagi Prefecture and is widely known as one of the region’s most impressive natural landscapes. The gorge is particularly famous in autumn, when the surrounding mou...»
A La Date-na Roadside Station is a popular roadside station located along National Route 47 in Iwadeyama-Iketsuki, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Welcoming more than 3 million visitors a year, it is one of the leading tourism hubs in the Tohoku region. The facility offers much more than a place to take a break while driving. Visitors can enjoy fresh local produce, regional foods, shopping, sweets...»
A Rich Natural Environment in Miyagi Prefecture Lake Izunuma is a beautiful freshwater lake stretching across Tome City and Kurihara City in Miyagi Prefecture. Covering approximately 369 hectares, including about 289 hectares of water surface, the lake has a volume of roughly 2.79 million cubic meters. Izunuma is remarkably shallow. Its average depth is only about 0.76 meters, while its deepest ...»
A Glimpse into Samurai Education in the Edo Period Yubikan is a historic building and garden in Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, where visitors can experience the atmosphere of Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868). Once a place where members of the Iwadeyama Date family and samurai studied, Yubikan offers a fascinating insight into the education and culture of the samurai class. The building ...»
Koganeyama Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Koganehazama, Wakuya Town, Miyagi Prefecture. The area is famous as the place where gold was first discovered and produced in Japan. The shrine stands at the heart of the nationally designated Koganeyama Gold-Mining Site, a historic site associated with the gold production of the Nara period (710–794). With a history stretching back more th...»
Wakuya Manyo-no-Sato Tenpyo Roman-kan is a history museum in Wakuya Town, Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the fascinating story of Japan's first recorded domestic gold production. During the Nara period (710–794), gold discovered in Wakuya played an important role in completing the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple in Nara. Today, Tenpyo Roman-kan preserves and introduces this remarkable chapter of...»
Sensory Museum is a unique interactive museum in Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, where visitors can explore the five human senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Opened on August 4, 2000, the museum encourages visitors to become more aware of the senses they use every day and, through this awareness, develop their sensitivity, imagination, and appreciation of the world around t...»
Tome City in Miyagi Prefecture is known as “Miyagi Meiji Village” because many historic buildings from the Meiji (1868–1912) and Taisho (1912–1926) periods remain throughout the town. The area features a fascinating mixture of Western-style and pseudo-Western-style architecture, traditional merchant houses, former samurai residences, historic sites, and other cultural landmarks. Walking through t...»
Naruko Onsenkyo is one of the most famous hot spring destinations in the Tohoku region of Japan. Located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, the area has a history of more than 1,000 years as a hot spring resort and is counted among the renowned hot springs of the Oshu region. Naruko Onsenkyo is made up of five distinct hot spring areas: Naruko Onsen, Higashi-Naruko Onsen, Kawatabi Onsen, Nakayamad...»
The Japan Kokeshi Museum is a museum dedicated to kokeshi, traditional Japanese wooden dolls, located in the Naruko Onsen area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Naruko has a long history as one of Japan's important kokeshi-producing regions, and the museum offers visitors an opportunity to discover traditional kokeshi from across the Tohoku region in one place. The museum displays approximately 5...»
Katanuma is a remarkable volcanic lake located in Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Known as one of Japan's notable highly acidic volcanic lakes, it offers a fascinating landscape shaped by volcanic activity. The lake is surrounded by mountains and forests, and its surface can appear in different shades depending on the weather and sunlight. On a clear day, the water may appear sky blu...»
Sunflower Hill is a scenic flower-viewing destination in Sanbongi, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Covering a vast area of approximately 6 hectares, the hill is transformed by seasonal flowers. In spring, around 2 million rapeseed flowers bloom across the slopes, while in summer, approximately 420,000 sunflowers create a brilliant yellow landscape. The scale of the flower fields is among the large...»
Bamboo Crafts Museum is located in Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, and introduces visitors to the area's traditional craft known as Shino bamboo work. The museum is a unique place where travelers can not only learn about this long-standing craft but also experience making bamboo products themselves. The building itself is also worth seeing. Its distinctive architectural design received ...»
Wakuya Castle, also known as Wakuya Fortress, was a Japanese castle that once stood in Wakuya Town, Tōda District, Miyagi Prefecture. Its history dates back to the Sengoku period, when it served as the residence of the Wakuya clan, retainers of the Ōsaki clan. Over the centuries, the castle changed hands several times. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi's unification of Japan, the site was temporarily cont...»
Konpōji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple belonging to the Tendai school of Buddhism in Wakuya Town, Tōda District, Miyagi Prefecture. Its mountain name is Mui-san, and the temple's principal image is the Eleven-Headed Kannon, a form of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion. The temple is widely known as Nonodake Kannon and has long been an important center of Kannon worship. Located near the ...»
Mori Stage Traditional Performing Arts Center is a Noh theater and museum located in Toyoma Town, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. It serves as an important center for preserving and introducing the region's traditional performing arts, including Toyoma Noh, Okayachi Nanbu Kagura, and Toyoma Hayashi. Opened in 1996, Mori Stage received the prestigious Architectural Institute of Japan Award for Works...»
Yokoyama Fudoson, formally known as Daitokuji Temple, is a historic Buddhist temple located in Tsuyama, Tome, Miyagi Prefecture. Belonging to the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, the temple has long been an important center of religious devotion in the Tohoku region. The temple is also traditionally counted among Japan's Three Great Fudo Temples, places dedicated to Fudo Myoo, one of the most revered...»
Kejonuma Dam is a prefectural dam located in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture. It is managed by the Miyagi Prefectural Government's River Division and the Osaki Regional Dam Management Office. The dam was constructed on the Chojagawa River, part of the Kitakami River system, primarily to control flooding in the Tadashiri River basin. It also provides a stable water supply for agriculture and other local ...»
The Toyoma Nostalgia Museum is a history museum located in Teraiike Sakurakoji, Toyoma Town, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. The museum houses and displays a valuable collection of cultural properties and historical materials associated with the Toyoma Date family. Visiting the museum offers an opportunity to learn about the history of the Toyoma domain and experience the culture of the samurai who...»
Kabukuri Swamp is a beautiful wetland in the former Tajiri area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Located within the Kitakami River watershed, the wetland is surrounded by expansive rice paddies and peaceful rural landscapes. The wetland covers approximately 100 to 150 hectares, much of which is covered by reeds and wild rice plants. Although there is relatively little open water, the shallow, ve...»
Cha Cha World Ishikoshi is a nature-filled amusement park in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. Surrounded by lush greenery and seasonal flowers, the park offers a variety of attractions and outdoor activities that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The park was opened on April 29, 1995, as part of a regional revitalization project undertaken by the former Ishikoshi Town. Today, visitors can...»
The Former Toyoma Higher Elementary School Building is a historic school building in Teraiike, Toyoma Town, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. Completed in 1888, during the Meiji period, it is an important example of early modern school architecture in Japan. The building was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1981. Today, it is open to the public as the Education Museum, where visit...»
The Tome Police Museum is a historical museum in Teraiike, Toyoma Town, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. The museum occupies the former Toyoma Police Station building, which was constructed during the Meiji period and has been preserved as an important example of early modern architecture. Today, it is a rare museum in Japan dedicated specifically to the history of the police and law enforcement. Vi...»
Shiso Maki is a traditional food enjoyed in Miyagi Prefecture and throughout the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan. It consists of a savory-sweet miso filling wrapped in fragrant green shiso leaves and typically fried until crisp. The rich flavor of miso and the refreshing aroma of shiso create a simple but distinctive taste. Shiso Maki is enjoyed in many ways, including as a snack with tea, a ...»
Matsuyama Sake Museum & Hana no Kura is a cultural and tourism facility in the Matsuyama area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. The complex introduces visitors to the long history and traditions of sake brewing in the region while also offering opportunities to enjoy local food, sake, agricultural products, and souvenirs. The neighboring Hana no Kura is a popular destination for both traveler...»
Kuri Dango is one of the signature sweets of Naruko Onsen, a famous hot spring town in Miyagi Prefecture. Each dumpling contains a whole sweetly simmered chestnut wrapped in soft, chewy mochi. The dumplings are generously covered with a warm, thick sauce similar to the sweet-and-savory glaze used for mitarashi dango. The pleasantly crumbly texture and gentle sweetness of the chestnut pair beautif...»
Tsuyuhatto, also known as Hatto-jiru, is a traditional local dish from the Tome area of Miyagi Prefecture. This comforting soup has long been enjoyed as a warming meal, especially during the cold winter months. It consists of pieces of hand-stretched wheat dough called hatto, simmered together with vegetables and other ingredients in a soy sauce- or miso-based broth. The dough has a wonderfully s...»
Sasanishiki is one of Miyagi Prefecture’s best-known branded rice varieties. It is prized for its fragrant aroma when cooked, beautiful glossy appearance, and light, clean taste with moderate stickiness. Because Sasanishiki does not have an overly strong flavor, it has long been appreciated as a rice that allows the flavors of accompanying dishes to shine. It pairs especially well with Japanese f...»
Hitomebore is a famous Japanese rice variety that was developed in Miyagi Prefecture. Its name expresses the idea of “falling in love at first sight” with its beautiful appearance and “falling in love at first taste” with its delicious flavor. When cooked, Hitomebore produces plump, glossy grains with a pleasant degree of stickiness and a gentle natural sweetness. Its well-balanced flavor makes i...»
Matsuyama Hometown History Museum is a local history museum in the Matsuyama area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. The museum introduces the history, culture, and heritage of a community that once flourished as a castle town under the Moniwa family, influential retainers of the Sendai domain. The museum also has a dedicated exhibition devoted to Frank Nagai, a famous singer from the Matsuyama ar...»
Shimippanashi Don is a unique local dish from the Iwadeyama and Naruko Onsen areas of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. It is made with “shimippanashi,” a traditional preserved food made by freezing and aging tofu. The ingredient has been passed down in the Iwadeyama area for generations and was once valued as an important source of protein during the long, cold winters of the Tohoku region....»
Iwadeyama Karinto is a traditional local sweet from the Iwadeyama area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. It is a type of karinto, a popular Japanese snack known for its crisp texture and sweet coating. What makes Iwadeyama Karinto distinctive is its roof-tile-like shape and the use of rice flour in the dough. Each bite offers a satisfying crunch followed by the fragrant sweetness of brown sugar, ...»
Yocchan Nanban is a flavorful local seasoning from Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Inspired by sansho-zuke, a traditional preserved food from the Tohoku region, it combines spicy chili peppers, rice koji, and soy sauce to create a rich, savory paste that can be enjoyed with a wide variety of dishes....»