[Yamagata Prefecture] Lost in another world? The mysterious space of Mahoroba no Sato “Uriwari Ishiwa Park”

Have you ever heard of "Uriwari Ishitei Park", which is surrounded by vertical rock faces and offers an unrealistic view that makes you feel like you've wandered into a game world

This time, I would like to introduce you to ``Uriwari Ishiniwa Park'', a slightly mysterious scenic space located in Takahata Town, Yamagata Prefecture, Mahoroba no Sato.

Access to Uriwari Isoniwa Park

Takahata Town, Yamagata Prefecture, where Uriwari Isoniwa Park is located, is a beautiful town surrounded by mountains in the southeastern part of Yamagata Prefecture. The area is famous for its wine production as well as the cultivation of grapes and other fruits.

Uriwari Isoniwa Park is located in a place rich in nature, about 15 minutes by taxi from JR Takahata Station and about 10 minutes by car from Nanyo Takahata IC on the Tohoku Expressway.

Let's go to Uriwari Ishiwa Park!

We arrived at the entrance of the park.

There are no toll booths, and you can tour for free.

Let's go inside.

When you go through the bushes...

There, a rock wall of about 50 meters in height towers over you!

Double the feeling of another world with rock art!

A rock figurine that further enhances the feeling of another world.

If you look closely at each one, you'll notice that they have lovely faces, but when combined with the mysterious atmosphere of Uriwari Ishitei Park, they also appear to have mysterious expressions.

I also saw stones that looked like Pokemon hiding in the grass.

This is "Yamagata Mahoroba's Seven Lucky Gods".

A place where you can solve the mysteries of this land

There was a space that looked like a room dug into the rock wall, so I decided to go inside.

Electric lights are hung from the ceiling. Does that mean there is electricity?

There are also some unfamiliar equipment lined up.

In fact, Uriwari Ishitei Park is a former quarry that has been turned into a park.

The yellowish tuff (rock made from solidified volcanic ash) that is mined here is called Takahatashi

The cut stones are widely used in daily life for building construction and boundaries, and are said to have even been used in stone chambers during the Kofun period.
At Uriwari Isoniwa Park, you can see the remains of Takahata stone being mined from 1920 to 2010.

The mining was done by hand using a pickaxe and a burlap sack called ``Hokkiri.''

to the end of the tunnel

This time, I discovered a gaping tunnel in the rock surface.

Where does it lead? Let's go inside.

As we exited the tunnel, we found ourselves surrounded by cliffs and greenery on all sides.

When you clap your hands, the sound resonates well. It would feel good to sing here.

What you can see are rock walls, greenery, and blue sky. When I stand alone in a quiet space, I feel like I'm not in the real world.

Natural acoustics! A space where music festivals are also held.

Outdoor festivals are also held at Uriwari Ishitei Park.

The Rock Wall Music Festival combines rock walls, music, and laser light to create a mysterious experience that is hard to believe.

The event was held in September 2022 for the first time in three years after it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it was very exciting, especially among young people in their 20s.

Tsumewari Isoniwa Park＜Information＞

• Facility name: Tsumewari Isoniwa Park (quarry)
• Address: Yasukutsu, Takabatake-cho, Higashiokitama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-52-5433 (Roadside Station Takahata)
• Official URL: Yamagata Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Travel to Yamagata] – Tsumewari Ishiniwa Park

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Recommended spots to visit

Former Takahata Station

I heard that there is a place where you can still see buildings made from quarried stone in Uriwari Ishitei Park, so I headed there.

Former Yamagata Kotsu Takahata Station is a stone-built station building located in the center of town, about 7 minutes by car from Uriwari Isoniwa Park.

The modern-looking station building was built in 1933 and has been designated as a national tangible cultural property.

It was used until the Yamagata Kotsu Takahata Line was abolished in 1971. Vehicles that were running at the time can also be seen on the premises.

Former Takahata Station <Information>

• Facility name: Former Takahata Station
• Address: 1568 Takahata, Takahata-cho, Higashiokitama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-57-3844 (Takahata Town Tourism Association)
• Official URL: Yamagata Prefecture Official Tourism Site [Travel to Yamagata] – Former Takahata Station

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summary

Uriwari Ishiniwa Park, where you can feel as if you have wandered into a mysterious world, was a very important place for mining Takahata stone, which was essential for the development of Takahata Town.

This is a recommended spot for people who want to see a slightly different view. Takahata Town is also a place where wine and fruits are delicious. Please go and try it!