This is the town's oldest statute of Amitabha, made in the late Heian period. It was originally enshrined by the Northern Fujiwara at Amidado, a temple hall containing an enshrined image of Amitabhajyo in Hirasawa Jouroku. The height of the statue is 4.8m which was measured as "Ichijou-rokushaku" in the Japanese old measurement. That is how the name, Jouroku comes from. It is valuable for this region where Heian Buddha is rarely found. This became Miyagi Prefecture's Designated Cultural Property in Showa 49 (1974).
It opened in 1997 as a park which functions as a recreational park where you become familar with nature, which combines Tohgatta Onsen near Matsukawa Rriverbed with Zao Wild Bird Forest. There is a miniature erosion control facility inside the park, and it is used as a place to learn erosion and torrent control works as well as a place of peace and relaxation for local residents.
Sanada Yukimura, a samurai warlord, who lead Toyotomi clan in the Siege of Osaka undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate against Toyotomi clan. He fought remarkably but died in the battle. He was acknowledged as the best fighter in Japan, from his stunning fight. In Zao Town, there are still historical sties related to Sendai Sanada.
It is a giant cedar of tree of about 900 years old and listed in Miyagi Prefectural Designated Natural Treasure. In the Meiji period, an obstetrician Igarashi Bunsai spread a belief of safe childbirth, Daruma Kou, around this area, so it is also called Daruma Cedar. The monument he made to preserve this tree is still standing near the roots of the cedar.
At Zao Heartland, you can try making dairy products using the milk from Zao.
Zao Heartland is closed from the end of September to March so the event is held at their Cheese House and accept reservations.
Here is the list of what they offer. Lesson that you can try for 30 min. or for 2 hrs.
Please reserve 1week in advance.
At "Miyagi Zao Kokeshi Museum" in Togatta Onsen, you can try painting on Kokeshi. Kokeshi is one of the traditional doll which originated in the Onsen areas in Tohoku during the Edo period as a souvenir. Create your own Kokeshi at this place!
Mt. Zao which sits between Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture is one of the place you can sight the rare nature art, "Snow Monster"
At Miyagi Zao Sumikawa Snow Park, the snow car "Wild Monster" will take you up and show you the snow monsters with a tour guide.
Zao Mountain Range (Zao Renpo) is located in the prefecture border between Miyagi and Yamagata in the Oshu Mountain Ranges that runs north to south of the Tohoku region. The main peak is Kumano dake in the Yamagata side (1,841 m).
They are layers of mountains dividing Miyagi prefecture and Yamagata prefecture, and they are one of Ou mountain ranges running north-south in the Tohoku region. The highest peak is Kumano-dake in Central Zao, followed by Byoubu-dake, Katsuta-dake, and Sugiga Mine. Zao Mountain Range has over 40 volcanic activities since it started monitoring. In the active volcano, the exposed rocky areas in light grey color (mainly Andesanite) are very thrilling.
The beautiful scenery in spring: The snow walls
The snow walls in Zao Echo Line are are only visible from late April, the openeing of Echo Line till snow melts.
Every year, we have a special even called "Snow Walls Free walk", where you can walk along the snow walls before Echo Line opens.
It is at between 700 m and 572 m above sea level, falling from Ishikosawa in the east of Ushiro Eboshi-dake to Sumi River. It is listed as one of the best 100 waterfalls in Japan, and especially the view of autumnal leaves is breathtaking. Sumi River has Sankai Falls, Fudou Falls and Jizou Falls, and you can see the scenery from Taki Midai.
Located in between east to west in Zao Mountain Range, Zao Echo Line is the mountain road between Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture, opened in November, 1962. The road is closed in winter from early November to late April. You can see the snow walls from late April to mid May and the fresh leaves with lots of negative ion in summer. From late September, you can enjoy a drive in the beautiful autumn leaves in red and yellow.
It was enshrined as sochinju (local Shinto deity) of Katsuta-gun, having an ancient and honorable history. The main shrine was dedicated in Kyouhou 3 (1718) by Katakura, the lord of Shiroishi Castle, who served as senior retainers to the Date clan. It is Miyagi Prefecture's Designated Cultural Property. In addition, the hall of worship, the gates, Swan Old Stone Monument, and 21 items of Votive tables are Zao Town's Designated Cultural Property. Moreover the sacred Shinto music and dance of Kattamine Shrine is listed as Zao Town's Designated Intangible Folk-Cultural Property.
Agatsuma Family House (National Important Cultural Property) is the largest private house with a thatched roof in Miyagi prefecture. It tells us how the wealthy farmer family lived in the Edo era. Hirasawa Mida's Cedar (Prefecture's Natural Treature) is one of the largest cedars in the prefecture, which is about 45 meters in height and about 9.7 meters in circumstance. It is considered that the Northern Fujiwara (Oshu Fujiwara) planted the tree at the time of the creation of Jouroku Amidado.
At "Miyagi Zao Kokeshi Museum" in Togatta Onsen, you can try painting on Kokeshi. Kokeshi is one of the traditional doll which originated in the Onsen areas in Tohoku during the Edo period as a souvenir. Create your own Kokeshi at this place!
Mt. Zao which sits between Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture is one of the place you can sight the rare nature art, "Snow Monster"
At Miyagi Zao Sumikawa Snow Park, the snow car "Wild Monster" will take you up and show you the snow monsters with a tour guide.
Okama is a crater lake located in Goshikidake. It is also called Goshiki pound as the color changes into emerald green and sky blue according to weather conditions. It is the symbol of Zao, which shows distinctive changes in each season. Because the shape of being surrounded by Gairinzan is similar to "a pot" (=Okayama in Japanasese), it is named Okama.
Okama is a crater lake located in Goshikidake. It is also called Goshiki pound as the color changes into emerald green and sky blue according to weather conditions. It is the symbol of Zao, which shows distinctive changes in each season. Because the shape of being surrounded by Gairinzan is similar to "a pot" (=Okayama in Japanasese), it is named Okama.
