Art & Culture / History & Tradition / Natural Scenery / Activities & Experience
Sightseeing facility / Events & Festivals / Special products
Tohoku Town Area
Touhoku Town and its surrounding areas have many exciting attractions for the adventurous visitor. Please check out Lake Ogawara, it is the second largest lake in the prefecture and has become known as the prosperous lake full of treasures. Lake Ogawara has a legend about two sisters, Tamahime & Katsuhime. Anenuma-marsh and Imoutnuma-marsh are named from this legend and there is a solemn atmosphere around the marshes. This lake is literally a treasure house of seafood such as the corbicula, pond smelt, whitebait, and eels. Moreover, the lake is registered in Ramsar Convention as a valuable marshland where many waterfowl roost. |
Spot information -----------------------------------------------
Art & Culture
History & Tradition
◇Preservation Pavilion of the Stone Monument of the Center of Japan
There is a stone monument called “Tsubonoishibumi” at the Preservation Pavilion. The monument of the Center of Japan is a natural stone of about 1.5 meters high. It was discovered in the vicinity of the Ishibumi village by the Akagawa River on June 21, 1949. The stone monument reminds us of romantic story of eternity. It was specified as a Tohoku-cho material cultural asset No.1 on December 7, 1989. It has been on display to the public since then.
Natural Scenery
◇Lake Ogawara
Lake Ogawara, the 11th largest lake in Japan, it has brackish-water and is connected to the ocean through the Takase River having an address of “Ogawarako 191”. It has so many species of fish to harvest it earned the title “a lake of treasure.” The plentiful harvest of whitebait and pond smelt is the best in Japan, and that of shijimi clam is the third best. Furthermore, natural eels, carp, crucian carp, gray mullets, halfbeaks, and marsh shrimp, and many more can be found in the lake. It is also home to many wild birds, especially in Hotokenuma-marsh area near the shore of Misawa One very famous rare bird, the Oosekkas, can be found here. During the winter months the lake severs as a sanctuary for migratory birds including the swan. This entire area has been designated as a natural monument of the prefecture.
Activity & Experience
◇Park of the green earth and the forest of romance
It is a park where the science play equipment is set up. There are five zones that include the world first 1.2 billion time molecule model and the Edison megaphone etc. The Japanese red pine of the age of 60 years or more and a lot of cherry blossoms and the mountain azaleas are planted on the road side of the stroll. The park slope becomes a skiing area in winter. There are two rope lifts in the area and as the area is near the town, it is very popular among families and tiddlers. It takes 10 minutes from JR-Ottomo satation on foot. The origin of thatched house "Manaka" located in the height in the park came from the stone monument of the center of Japan.”The Center of Japan” in Kanaji character is said to be called “Hinomoto-manaka”. The facilities user should apply in prior to the visit though the visit is free. The applicant can experience the buckwheat making.
The origin of the thatched house called "Manaka" is located at the height of the park came from the stone monument of the center of Japan. ”The Center of Japan” in Kanaji characters is said to be called “Hinomoto-manaka.” The facilities user should apply in advance to use them, however the visit is free. The visitor can also experience buckwheat making.
◇Shimizume dam car camping site
This campsite is at the foot of the Shimizume Dam that is located just west of the 4th national road line upstream at the rivers eye. (Open for camping June through October.)
◇Ogawara Lakeside Park
This park located 650 meters from the roadside station at Ogawara Lake.
◇Ogawara lakeside village
The village has a pay coin shower, cookhouse, open-air stage, play equipment, and putter golf course. There are also 10 Canadian style houses located at the height of the brook field lake park as well as 27 sites for car camping.
Sightseeing Facility
◇Road station Ogawara Lake ”Koyuukan”
Road station Ogawara opened May 5,2004 as a place for distributing information about the town.
Events & Festivals ---------------------------------------------
Spring
◇Ogawara lake Cherry blossom festival
Summer
◇Touhoku town lakeside festival
This is a big summer event crowded with many people. It is held on Saturday and Sunday during the last week of July.
Autumn
◇Central Japan flambeau festival
The festival originated from what was a prayer for a good harvest, good health, and victory with big flambeau.
Winter
Gourmet information -----------------------------------------
Special products
◇Garlic
Since it is grown in an extremely cold area, the color of the garlic is white like snow and the taste is thick. It is sold at the road station Ogawarako and at the JA direct shop in the town and a few other locations.
◇Whitebait
The harvest of the corbicula shellfish in lake Ogawara is the third most plentiful in Japan.
It is sold at the road station Ogawarako and at the fish shop in the town and other locations.
◇Fish boiled down with soy
Fish boiled with soy and raft shaped grilled fish caught in Lake Ogawara.
It is sold at road station Ogawarakoko and at the shops and other locations.
◇Yamato Corbicula
The harvest of the corbicula shellfish in Lake Ogawara is the third most plentiful in Japan.
It is sold at the road station Ogawarako and at the local fish shop in the town.
◇Yam
The production of Yams in Aomori Prefecture is the most plentiful in Japan. The production of it in Tohoku town is the most plentiful in Aomori prefecture.
It is sold at the road station Ogawara and at the JA direct shop and some other locations.
◇Pond smelt
The harvest of the corbicula shellfish in Lake Ogawara is the third most plentiful in Japan. It is sold at the road station Ogawarako and at the local fish shop and some other locations.
◇Hands Ham
Only 100% high quality pork is used. Low salt, low fat, no coupler, no preservatives, no synthetic preservatives or colorant are used on this ham. They are sold both in Ginnann-ryo-Hands and at the road station Ogawarako.
