Towada area   Towada City is a comparatively new city developed along the Inaoi river. It was called Sanbongi (three trees) before in the meaning of barren ground. It is the Inaoi river that made this town a rich garden city of fruit.。Inazou Nitobe who did this business of construction has long been told as a father of development of Towada area. After that a lot of croplands were made in Towada, and a lot of people came to gather. Using advantage of the broad acres, the production of the horse is done actively as a war horse replenishment part. The city became a modern city that has many modern buildings. At the corner of the town, there is Towada Art Center. This museum itself can be enjoyed as an artistic object. In the adjacent park, there are many colorful present arts and they make the people who walk through the town amused. It stands in the street of the government office quarter, and whole this street region turns into one art in spring when cherry blossoms planted on this street.

 

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

　Art & Culture

 

◇Towada Art Center
Due to recent move-outs and downsizing of government offices, Kanchogaidori, the central avenue of the city which literally means "government Office Street," has noticeably become desolate despite its name. In an effort to revive the street, Towada City has begun the Arts Towada Project, for the improvement of the cityscape and future town planning.
In this project, an outdoor space, namely Kanchogaidori, is transformed into a museum, with a variety of artworks all along the street. Such a project is very unique and rare, even when considered on a global scale. Furthermore, with the harmony of the artworks and Towada's beautiful nature and rich history, as well as the local vitality, Towada aims to be recognized as "City of Arts" and "City of Inspiration and Creation."
The Arts Towada Project is planned to be completed in the spring of 2010; events leading up to the completion includes: the 2008 opening of the Towada Art Center, the central facility for the project; renovation of the former tax office site; and installation of the artwork symbolizing the project.
<<From an article of introduction of Towada Art Center web site>>

 

　History & Tradition

◇Towadako Folklore Museum (former Sasaisihi’s Farmer Residence)
The museum is used to preserve, and to disclose the valuable folklore data in knowing the change of the life been handed down by the ancestor in this provinces. As the loss of folklore materials is remarkable with the rapid change of life environment recently, it is necessary to establish a countermeasure for the protection of them as soon as possible. The old glass-lead-roof house (former Sasaisihi’s Residence) built in late Edo period was restored to its original condition and fortunately it was specified as an important cultural asset. It is now opened to the public and a folk customs material pavilion was built here also. The old materials are gathered and donated with the cooperation of the people this area.
The special feature of the pavilion is that visitors are allowed to touch those equipments and tools in the pavilion directly.

 

◇Towada City Nitobe Memorial Museum
Visitors of the museum can trace the history of the predecessors such as Tsuto Nitobe who made much effort to development of Sanbon field and Towada-city. It is possible to lean about development-related materials and inheritances and it’s also possible to know about great achievement of Inazou Nitobe who made big footprints on international relationship by his activity as Doctor of Agriculture and Lows.

 

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　Natural Scenery

◇Lake Towada
Lake Towada is a typical double caldera lake above the sea 400m, surroundings are about 53km, and it is a mysterious lake filled with beautiful indigo color with 326.8m depth of the third place in Japan. A writer Keigetsu Omachi celebrated it saying “Mountain is Fuji, Lake is Towada, there are only ones in a whole world”. To say nothing of in the season of the fresh green and the autumn tint, Lake Towada in winter is so fantastic as to make us comfortable.

 

 

◇Government office quarter street(Horse highway)
In "Government office quarter street (horse highway)" ,a corridor Towada City of cherry blossoms of the top of Japan, the contrast of cherry blossoms and the pine is indeed impressive. Especially, cherry blossoms in the evening are wonderful, and visitors can enjoy its fantastic beauty. This panorama can be seen from the opened public office building observatory etc., and the visitors can enjoy the vesper of the fantasy. The fusion of the spectacle with the Towada Art Center is also wonderful.

 

◇The Bronze Statues of Maidens
A pair of bronze Statues of Naked Maidens by Kotaro Takamura who is a poet and a carver.
Aomori Prefecture built them in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of national park specification in 1953 to celebrate the achievement of three peoples Keigetsu Omach, a writer who introduced Lake Towada across the country and Chiyosaburo Takeda who was a Prefectural governor of Aomori and Koichi Ogasawara who was a village chief of the area. Beside the statues, there is monument poem about the thought for the statues, “Give this poem to the Statues of Maidens of Lake Towada” is carved.

 

 

 

◇Oirase Stream
The stream is flown out from Nenokuchi of Lake Towada and it becomes rapid to wash rocks covered with moss. Sometimes it goes fast and sometimes it goes slow gathering water from many falls fallen from great walls beside the stream and it gradually becomes broad and calm stream to reach Yakeyama (Towadako hot spring spa resort). In the stream covered with deep natural forest leading about 14km, there spreads an exciting spectacle that is generated by endless change of water flow

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　Activity & Experience

◇Tsugaru samisen sightseeing hall
"Tsugaru samisen sightseeing hall" opened at Towadako hot spring spa resort that has beautiful Oirase stream on October 10, 2003. There are a lot of wonderful traditional Japanese theaters and music in Aomori Prefecture. Tsugaru samisen, the Tsugaru folk song, the Nanbu folk song, Tsugaru dance, and Nanbu dance etc., a lot more is there. Wanting many peoples to feel excitement of the arts by seeing those arts, the hall was built gathering the mind of volunteers who have such feelings to keep the activity for the future.

 

 

◇Towada City Horse Park (Komokko Land)
To realize the basic theme of the park of “a resort whore exchanging the delight of horse and human”, there placed ranch where visitors can touch horses and horse shaped playing monuments or 217m long roller slide are also settled. There is also Shotokukan that is one of the rare horse culture museums found in Japan.

 

 

◇Hakkoda Panorama Park Golf Links
Hakkoda Panorama Park Golf Links is a highland golf course designed to take advantage of the natural landscape that extends from the foot of the Hakkoda Mountain range. Park Golf was born at Bobetu town in Hokkaido as Life Sports. It is an easy game that anyone from children to elder people can play with one club and one ball. It is a healthy sports competing the number of hitting a ball on a green field under sunshine.

 

 

 

◇Towadako Ski, Snowboard and Spa Resort
The ski resort is located just above the Towadako Spa resort. The ski slope of family gelende is calm and suitable for beginners and families. The antelope course has steep slope and calm slope and enjoyable for senior skiers. Of course snowboard is also available everywhere in the courses. Now, let’s fully enjoy the winter amusement of Ski, Snowboard and Spa.

 

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　Sightseeing Facility

◇Oirase yusui-kan Museum
Beechen virgin forest of Oirase grew us so many life from age of ancient times. It is Oirase stream water that comes from this forest with much atmosphere of the great nature. It is good for drinking as it is and also good for coffee, tea and for grog. It is an excellent water to be recommended with confidence for the people requesting really delicious water. Oirase Yusui-kan Museum is a facility that visitors can fully feel wonderfulness of the pure and clean Oirase water.

 

◇Towada visitor center
It is a navigator of the national park at the station square in the center of Yasumiya near the bus terminal and port of tour boat. It is a convenient facility that explains wonderful nature of Towada in easy way. It explains the natural environments of Lake Towada, Oirase Stream, Hakkoda Mountains using panel photos and bird models. Especially high-vision videos and multi-slide photos, “Seasons in Lake Towada” shows us animals and plants changing in years through seasons of Lake Towada and relationship between huma. In addition, guide maps and pamphlets around this area are always available and anyone can use picture books freely and can try to make crafts with natural materials.

 

◇Oirase Road sta.”Romance Park”
Towadako town(currently included in Towada city) is located in southern part of Aomori prefecture and is full of scenic site of Tohoku area such as Hakkoda, Oirase and Lake Towada. Oirase Road sta. as a base of sightseeing of this area has variety of facilities and it is at roadside of route 102 with a big signboard that welcomes visitors. Visitors can take a rest here in the course of drive with broad parking area capable of 350 cars and many restrooms. It also has a local product shop “Shikisai-kan” and steak restaurant “Mirai-kan” that serves Towadako-beef and beer browory “Oirase-Bakushu-kan” where visitors can enjoy local beer with clear taste and handmade food shop “Miraku-kobo”.

 

◇Oirase-Keiryu-kan Museum
There are some divisions such as an exhibition corner that exhibits works of writers and artists who were charmed with the beauty of Towada, Oirase and an information corner with full of information about good or famous sightseeing point of Oirase stream.

 

 

 

◇Towada Road sta. “Towadapia”
Towada Road sta. is located in the southern part of the city by the route 4. Capacity of the parking area is 217 cars and it has a shop that deals local products and agricultural products and restraint as a comfortable rest area for sightseeing tourist and for drivers in long distance.

 

 

 

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

 

Winter

◇Lake Towada Winter’s Tale
To enjoy Lake Towada in winter, it is recommended to attend Lake Towada Winter’s Tale. In the silver world, The Bronze Statues of Maidens and cruising vessels are illuminated and under the cold and clear sky, Tsugaru samisens and Namahage drams make wonderful sound in the night. Also inside a big doom of Towada-shokusai-doom, visitors can enjoy local foods of Aomori and Akita prefecture seeing events on the stage.

 

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

 

　Special products

 

◇Oirase beer
The beer is reproduced with original taste by a direct instruction of a brew master and a plant from Czech, the home of Pilsner. It is a local brand beer to which chosen malt and hop were trained by the water of Oirase stream. Pilsner, weizen, dark lager and half & half and more other local beers available in limited period are served.

 

 

 

◇Towada-bara-yaki
Towada-bara-yaki is a kind of beef slice saute cooked on iron plate with quantities of onion in salty-sweet sauce based on soy source. It is a standard menu in Towada promoted to be a B-class gourmet to the nation and is served in more than 70 restaurants in the city.

 

 

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