Art & Culture / History & Tradition / Natural Scenery / Activities & Experience
Sightseeing facility / Events & Festivals / Special products
Shichinohe Area
A lot of valuable historical and cultural monuments and relics exist in the town of Shichinohe. The ruins of Shichinohe castle are maintained as Kashiwaba park now, and are crowded with a lot of people enjoying the cherry blossoms in spring. Shichinohe is a town of history and culture, and is also a town of the flower. The azalea in the Tenou shrine literally dyes the slope on a slightly elevated hill with an azalea color in May. Moreover, rapeseed blossoms that bloom in the entire Kaneko farm also tends to make people stop their cars to view them. |
Spot information -----------------------------------------------
Art & Culture
◇Takayama Uichi Memorial Museum of Art
This museum was opened August 1, 1994 so that to showcase the achievements of Takayama Uichi from Sihinohe town. He was called the painter of fantasy rarely seen. His works include butterflies and flowers portrayed as if in a fantasy. Please appreciate the world of Takayama, with the motif and a transparent feeling that flows from it. Moreover, works of Toya Banzan, Hirano Shiro, and Kamiizumi Kaio who have relations with Shichinohe town, are present, and still being surveyed and studied.
◇A Mansion of dolls in NonoUe
This gallery was opened after redecorating the Nonoue elementary and junior high school’s schoolhouse which was closed previously. This gallery always exhibits works of Narita Kyusei who is a superintendent of this pavilion and is a modern doll artist from this town. This museum is being paid to attention as an unusual museum on the creation present day dolls by people from around the country.
History & Tradition
◇Nanbu-Magari house
This house is built in the shape of the letter L, and has divided into two sections. One area is the living quarters of the residents and the other part is where the horses live.
◇Chibiki shrine
This shrine is said to be built by Sakanoue Tamuramaro in 807. It was a shrine visited by the shogunate inspector in Edo period and was a first place to visit in Nanbu area. There is a legend of having built Tsubonoishibumi monument carved from the Japanese center of old. It is known for the Japanese poems and trip sentences written by those who visited this monument. This was revived in 1765 though it was demolished once. It is said by some that it is a Shinto shrine with the oldest history in Aomori Prefecture.
◇Former Nabujukan Railway’s Railbus
This long awaited railway opened in 1962. It was beloved by fans and earned the nickname "Railbus". At first, it was used in the transportation of farm products. It operated for 35 years and closed in 2002.
◇Ruins of Shichinohe castle
It is said that the castle was the fortification of Nanbu Masamitsu at Nejou-Nanbu. The building marked as the master’s dwelling etc. from the Middle Ages was discovered in the Northern district as well as the treasure pavilions were also discovered. The castle was used as a magistrate's office in the early modern age. It received historic site status in 1941. A section of the ruins is maintained as an urban park.
Natural Scenery
◇Wandamu-land
The Prefectural Wada dam profit usage plan was completed in 1995. Control of the facilities was transferred to Shichinohe town by Aomori Prefecture July 30, 1996. After that Shichinohe town installed kitchen areas so that it could be used as a comfortable picnic shelter. Full scale operation of the facility began in 1997. Hand-made buckwheat noodle and Keiran are served at the restaurant.
Activity & Experience
◇East Hakkoda Family Trip Village
East Hakkoda Family Trip Village is a place that all families can enjoy. Located seven kilometers west of Shichinohe cultural village (Roadside station Shichinohe,) the campsite and cabins are in the Japanese Oak Woods. Visitors can relax in the forest while listening to the calls of wild birds. It also has various recreational facilities such as a family square and a barbecue square. The view from the observatory 212 meters above sea level is fantastic. The scenery of Ou ranch spreads before one's eyes. Ogawara Lake and the Pacific Ocean can also be seen from the top. Looking the other direction there extends a magnificent view of the Hakkoda mountain range.
Events & Festivals ---------------------------------------------
Spring
◇Tennou azalea festival
Tennou Shinto shrine on urban hill is an unusual Shinto shrine where the shrines from the various areas in the Orient were united. About 500 azaleas, the town’s local flower, bloom around May every year. The azaleas are lit up and become fantastically beautiful when the night comes. Many of the visitors are enchanted by the view. The tanka-poems about azalea and the votive horse picture lanterns are decorated in both sides of the 106 stone steps constructed during that period. They enhance the beauty of the azaleas in full bloom with elegant sounds of the harp and the flute that flow from precincts.
◇Play with Railbus
The people from the preservation association maintain the vehicles in working order and visitors can have their photos taken while they sit on them.
Summer
◇Shichinohe Summer Festival
The local native performing arts are performed on an outdoor stage in Shichinohe town central park. A lot of events like the character show popular with children, and the songs show by famous guests, and many more are held here also. There is also a game called challenge corners that anyone, child to adult can participate in and enjoy.
Autumn
◇Shichinohe Autumn Festival
This autumn festival is the grand festival of Sichinohe Shinmei Shrine. Magnificent floats which are created to represent events from old stories and legends are created by neighborhood associations and paraded through the downtown area. There are also a lot of events such as the Kashiwaba drum competition, the hometown entertainment shows, and the disguise competition. The Fight drum competition brightens up the finale of the festival.
Winter
◇White battle in Shichinohe
The white battle (snowball fight) is a game in which two teams of seven players scramble for the flag of the attacking team by throwing 90 snowballs within a certain time limit. There are three exciting classes of competition: school children, ladies, and general.
◇Shichinohe Discounting Day of Chinese New year
A shopping festival which carries the tradition of 300 years takes place at the Shichinohe shopping street. The shops have sales and showcase many ideas for arranging goods and decorating windows or walls in the shop. Additionally, the snow figure contest is performed and the sweet drink made from fermented rice and Oshiruko are served on the street. The shopping street is crowded with many customers from near and far.
Gourmet information -----------------------------------------
Special products
◇Chinese Yam (Shichinohe)
Shichinohe is a birthplace of the Chinese Yam. To say nothing of its deliciousness, benefits are three times that of the radish. It is said that the sticky element of mucin is effective in stimulating the robustness of the body and for strengthening the mucous membrane, as well as for the prevention of influenza. Please feel free to eat plenty for your health.
◇Black garlic
Black garlic is made with garlic grown up in stoutness of the northernmost snow in Aomori then ripened and fermented at a strictly controlled temperature and humidity, then soaked in the deep-ocean water of Mie Prefecture Owase for a long time.
Originally garlic has Sweetness of sugar concentration just like of fruit. We made it tasty to eat by drawing out sour and sweetness to its maximum by a peculiar manufacturing method. It is so fruity and delicious, with a high nutritive value that it is gaining popularity.
◇Apios
Shichinohe town produces the most apios in Japan. It was introduced to the public by television, radio, and weekly magazine ads that say it supplies energy and vigor. It has the iron content four times higher than the potato though it is a kind of potato. Its fiber content is also five times higher, proteins are three times higher, and calcium is 30 times higher. It also provides more energy than the sweet potato and potato, Apios is so nutritious. It is a specialty 'Apios' which the town boasts as a food that contains really a marvelous element.
◇Garlic(Shichinohe)
Mild garlic is "Epoch-making garlic" which people do not need to worry about the smell after eating it. The odor was removed without using any chemicals. It is ideal garlic with the same smell, flavor and nutrient as original garlic.
◇Komamanju Bun
It is a pretty bun that has been loved by locals since the Meiji era. It has the delicacy of tradition in its simplicity and is served as a cake that is popular with many fans throughout the country.
