Noheji, Yokohama, Rokkasho area   Noheji town is a town that used to prosper from marine transportation. The symbol of the port at the marine transportation facility is an all-night light (Jouya-tou.) Noheji town, at the root of the Mutsu bay and the Shimokita peninsula, was prosperous as the strategic location on the route that connected present Aomori City, the Shimokita peninsula, and the southern provinces. Facing towards Mutsu bay, a lot of sea products are caught including scallops, sea cucumber, and sea urchin. Due to the large snowfall in the eastern part of the prefecture, Noheji town has a big ski resort called Makado-onnsen ski resort where large competitions are held sometimes. At this ski resort, there is a variety of courses which anyone from expert to beginner can enjoy. There also is a long lift and from the top of the lift, Shimokita peninsula and Pacific Ocean can be seen. Both Japanese and foreign skiers visit this resort. Rokkasho village has been designated by the country as an energy base. There is a Gennen-Public Relations center located near the nuclear power fuel reprocessing plant where visitors can learn about the countries nuclear policy and the many uses of nuclear energy. A large hot spring facility called Rokka-Pokka provides various hot springs, restaurants, karaoke room, and more. Families can enjoy themselves there all day long. Yokohama Town is a small town that faces towards Mutsu bay in the same direction towards the Shimokita peninsula north of Noheji town. When the rapeseed blossoms in Yokohama town, the ground becomes a carpet of yellow blossoms. To experience a mild fragrance and gentle taste please try the soft ice cream sold at the roadside station. Another attraction is the huge windmills used for generating power can be found along the shore. The humming sound can be heard as you approach them; it is very enjoyable to eat the grilled scallops at the beech while looking at the windmills on summer days.

Spot information　-----------------------------------------------

　Art & Culture

　History & Tradition

◇Clan boundary Line
Visit a border line consisting of a mound of soil that was built along the old Oshu highway as a sign of the boundary between the southern clan and the Tsugaru clan during the Edo period. In those days there used to be a guard station where passengers and goods were controlled. The sizes of the mounds are about 10m in diameter and about 3.5m in height. As there were two mounds for both the Nanbu clan and the Tsugaru clan bringing the total number to four, the place has been called “Yotsu-mori” (four forests).

◇Noheji historical folklore data pavilion
On display are excavated articles of from the Jomon period, materials which were commonly used when the town prospered as a strategic location of the Kitamae-bune ship trading. Materials include items from local magistrate places, and numerous items from local residents.

 

 

 

 

 

◇Milestone
Starting from Edo Nihonbashi, milestones are placed on both sides of the highway were placed 4km apart and the milestone of Noheji is the 179th milestone from Nihonbashi.

 

 

 

◇Rokkasho village hometown pavilion
The pavilion is divided into different areas for folk customs, nature, archeology, fishery, and local history study and it exhibits many of farming tools as well.

　

 

 

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　Natural Scenery

◇Atago park
The size of the park is 82,425 square meters. In spring, 800 cherry trees come into bloom. The cherry tree of Edohigan is said to be valuable in botany studies as it grows in the most northern part of main island of Japan. And also in the park, there are monuments carved with the poems of Basho and Takuboku. On the top of the park, there is a monument memorial for those who have died in war.

 

 

◇all-night light (Jouya-tou) park
The light was used as a sign for the ships coming to Noheji-port. The port was crowded as it was gate for the Morioka clan’s port the Japanese sea in the Edo period. It is said to be the oldest of the existing lights made with stones. The park is illuminated at night and fantastic scenery appears there.

 

 

 

◇Tofugaura seaside resort
There are shower rooms with hot water and free rest houses and a camping site as well. As for the sea, the waves are calm in the shoal and it is very familiar with the local people.

 

 

 

 

◇Eboshi-dake Mt.
Eboshi-dake, with a 720 meter peak, is popular with families as its slope is calm and easy to climb and there are different plants on the mountainside that change as one ascends the mountain.

 

 

 

 

◇Rapeseed blossoms field in Yokohama town
Strolling in the rapeseed blossoms field of Yokohama town is a lot of fun. From middle to the end of May, a lot of tourists come to see the scenery of all yellow. A lot of photographers come to capture the beauty as well. While the blossoms are in bloom a huge maze of rape blossoms is made in the Oomameda area that is the site of the festival, visitors can enjoy blossoms close up.

 

 

◇Wild bird observation park
Wild birds such as the swans and the ducks and wild geese can be observed.

 

 

 

 

 

◇Monomi-zaki cape lighthouse
It is a white lighthouse standing 8.35m tall and flashing every 7 seconds. When it flashes 360 degrees around the lighthouse are lit up. The light can reach about 31km. As from May to August, it becomes very misty near the area, the sea used to be called a treacherous sea. But after the light house built September 1, 1934, the light from the lighthouse has been making the sea safer for sailors.

 

 

 

 

◇Makado river sightseeing park
There is a pond called Jabu-Jabu-ike that is fed from Makado River as well as playing equipment and facilities at the park. Visitors can enjoy many flowers from spring through autumn.

 

 

 

◇Rokkasho village Wind farm
Total output power is 31,500KW (1,500KW×22 units). Average wind speed (yearly average) is 6m/sec. Estimated total charge volume in a year is about 61million KWh. This is enough power for about 17,500 houses.

　

 

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　Activity & Experience

◇Fishing park Noheji
Families can enjoy fishing such as rainbow trout etc. grown in Biwano river of Noheji. Materials about salmons are exhibited also.

 

 

 

 

　Sightseeing facility

◇Roadside station Yokohama "Rapeseed blossoms plaza"
The visitor can buy souvenirs of the Yokohama town here. They sell special products such as potatoes, yams, scallops, sea cucumbers (in December.) There are also many rapeseed blossom souvenirs. One of the popular products is rapeseed blossom doughnuts flied with rapeseed oil; they are loved by many visitors saying “Oishii.” Another recommended food is Nabana soft ice cream that is made from the young leaves of the rapeseed. In the restaurant “Sensai,” visitors can enjoy menus that use special products from this area.

 

Events & Festivals　---------------------------------------------

　

　Spring

◇Noheji spring festival
The festival is held at the Atago Park, a relieving resort of the residents in the town, in spring. The park is crowded with people enjoying a Hotate (scallop) relay race, a cherry blossom Kendo competition, a Yosakoi-soran dancing show, and a song show.

 

 

 

◇Rapeseed blossom festival in Yokoham
In a field that is one of the largest planted acreage of rapeseed, there is a marathon race, rapeseed blossom maze event, photo taking event, and special products for sale.

 

 

 

　Summer

◇All-night-light festival
The festival is held at Noheji Shiosai Park that faces Noheji bay. Stalls, BBQ, specialty sampling, ales, Noheji bay cruising,and Yosakoi-soran dancing event are planned yearly.

 

 

 

◇Noheji Gion festival
A lot of people and the cultures have visited from central Japan when Kitamae-bune ships were actively coming to and from Noheji port. Gion festival is one of them, and it is said that this is why the melody of the musical band at the festival is very similar to that of Kyoto’s Gion festival. The festival starts from Yoinomiya in the morning and in the nighttime of the first day, floats go around the town heading for Hachiman-gu shrine in the fantastic light. In the middle day of the festival, a parade is held that represents glories of the town’s prosperous ship trading. Omikoshi goes first and a symbol of the town goes next and Kagura theaters last, and more than 10 fishing ships with big harvest stream follow them. In the last day, floats go around the town to close out the festival.

 

 

◇Tanoshimube(Let’s enjoy)! Festival
The slogan “Minnade tanoshimube (Let’s enjoy,)” is the theme of this festival that is held as part of the sightseeing promotion of Rokkasho village. Many events like character shows and comedians are held as well as fireworks, that are one of the earliest in a season in the prefecture, give fantastic atmosphere combined with ray and music.

 

 

 

　Autumn

　Winter

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Gourmet information　-----------------------------------------

　Special products

 

◇Kawara Ketshmei tea
Kitamae-bune ship trading brought “Kawaraketsumei tea” to Noheji in Edo period and it became popular for the people in the town. It is developed as cake, ice cream, soba and udon-noodle and orders come from inside and outside of the town recently as its popularity grows.

 

 

 

 

 

◇Togekuri-crab (Horsehair crab)
Visitors can enjoy Togekuri-crab around May. It has a lot kani-miso paste and eggs inside the crab which gives it a concentrated crab taste. Visitors will never forget the taste once eating it.

 

 

 

◇Jimaki-Hotate (Scallop)
Noheji’s special product of “Jimaki-Hotate” is a Scallop that is raised from fry of shellfish being sown directly on bottom of the sea in Mutsu bay. The trademark was registered in 2005. As the taste is different from that of cultivated scallops it is becoming very popular, and a lot of people come to the market every Saturday morning. At the fishery cooperative, visitors can send them by mail order or by request at the counter.

 

◇Yokohama Sea cucumber
Yokohama Sea Cucumber is very popular for its softness and deliciousness and is one of the many products of Mutsu bay. It has been one of the necessary foods for the New Year’s table since the old days. It is said that the secret of the deliciousness comes from the natural environment of sea bottom of rock with calm waves.

 

 

 

◇Smoked Sashimi
Mere is deliberately smoked at a low temperature. This process creates a tough texture similar to that of beef jerky.

 

 

 

 

◇Real yam shochu “Rokushu”
The shochu is made from yams, a product of Rokkasho village, with the technology of Miyagi prefecture’s proud tradition of distilling shochu.

 

 

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