[Iwate Prefecture] 7 famous waters in Iwate Prefecture! Sweetfish and salmon swim upstream in the famous water that flows through the city!

In Iwate Prefecture, the Kitakami River system, which has the largest basin area in the Tohoku region and is full of abundant water, flows through Iwate Prefecture, and there are also many mountain forests that serve as water sources, making it rich in water resources.

In particular, Morioka City, the prefectural capital, is known as the ``City of Forests and Water,'' where you can fish for sweetfish and watch salmon run upstream in the Nakatsugawa River, which is known as ``famous water,'' and where refreshing water springs up everywhere in the city. I am.

What is “famous water”?

Japan has many springs, rivers, and underground waters of high quality and abundant water, which support people's lives as drinking water, domestic water, and agricultural water.

Among these, particularly refreshing water sources are called ``Meisui.''

There are no clear definitions or standards, but what all famous waters have in common is that they are carefully protected by the local community to ensure that they remain clean.

Selected by the Ministry of the Environment as ``100 Best Waters'' and ``100 Best Waters of the Heisei Era''

In 1985 (Showa 60), the then Environment Agency selected particularly excellent water environments from rivers and springs across the country, and selected them as ``100 Famous Waters'' with the aim of preserving them into the future. Ta.

In 2008, ``Heisei's 100 Famous Waters'' was released, which includes not only rivers and springs, but also irrigation water and groundwater.A total of 200 famous waters were selected, with 12 in each area in Tohoku. 24 locations are considered famous waters.

Official site of the 100 Famous Waters established by the Ministry of the Environment

water-pub.env.go.jp
Link
Selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the top 100 famous waters of the Heisei era
https://water-pub.env.go.jp/water-pub/mizu-site/newmeisui/

Iwate prefecture's famous waters selected as one of the 100 best waters selected by the Ministry of the Environment

It has been selected from Ryusendo Cave and Hachimantai, two of the prefecture's leading tourist spots.

Ryusendo Cave Underground Lake Water (Iwaizumi Town, Shimohei District)

Ryusendo Cave, one of Japan's three largest limestone caves, is a long limestone cave with a total length of over 4 km and is a national natural monument.

From the official website of Ryusendo Cave Office

There are several mysterious underground lakes with high transparency and deep water that spring up in abundance with slightly alkaline water that contains plenty of calcium, and currently three of the underground lakes are open to the public for tourism.

In addition to being used as tap water in Iwaizumi Town, the spring water is sold as ``Ryusendo Cave Water,'' and canned coffee ``Ryusendo Coffee,'' made with this water, is also available at retailers in Iwate Prefecture and online shops. Available for purchase.

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Kanazawa Shimizu (Matsuo Yosegi, Hachimantai City)

It is a collective name for the seven springs that gush out in Hachimantai City at the foot of Mt. Iwate.

The spring water, which is protected as the water source for Hachimantai City's water supply, maintains a temperature of 9°C to 13°C throughout the year, and is also used to farm rainbow trout, yamame trout, sweetfish, and other species.

Because it contains a lot of vanadium, which has been attracting attention recently, it is sold online as mineral water under the name ``Iwate Hachimantai Great Spring Water''.

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Iwate Prefecture's famous waters selected as one of the ``100 Best Waters of the Heisei Period'' by the Environment Agency

There are three locations in the prefecture, a spring and a river in Morioka City and one spring in Ichinoseki City.

Daiji Shimizu/Seiryusui (Morioka City)

This is a communal well in Nataya-cho, Morioka City, that has been in use since the Edo period.It is a common well that has been used since the Edo period. The water is drawn from the spring water within the precincts of Gidaji.

The construction of both wells is the same, and their use is determined in order from the discharge well: the first well is for drinking, the second well is for washing rice, the third well is for washing, and the fourth well is for washing feet.

Although both wells occasionally run dry, they are managed by the local community, including regular cleaning.

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Daiji Shimizu
  • Location: 3-15 Hatayacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Facility name: Seiryusui
  • Location: 1 Daijijicho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 019-604-3305 (Morioka Tourism and Convention Association)
  • URL: Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization official website

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Downstream of Nakatsugawa Tsunatori Dam (Nakatsugawa Tsunatori Dam: Morioka City)

The Nakatsugawa River, which originates in the Kitakami Mountains, is a tributary of the Kitakami River, and the approximately 7km stretch from Tsunatori Dam in Morioka City to its confluence with the Kitakami River has been selected as a famous water source.

From Morioka City official Facebook

Although it flows through the center of Morioka City, including the government office district and the ruins of Morioka Castle, it is a clear stream where you can see anglers fishing for sweetfish in the summer and salmon swimming upstream in late autumn.

In midsummer, children enjoy playing in the shallow waters with good footing, and the river is loved as a famous water river that is indispensable to the lives of Morioka citizens.

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Grace of Sukawadake Hisui Beech (Megumi of Sukawadake Hisui Beech: Ichinoseki City)

There has been a spa at the foot of Mt. Sugawa (Mt. Kurikoma) for over 300 years, and the spring water ``Hyakkosui'' was used by the gouriki who carried the luggage of bathers back in the day. It is said to have quenched their thirst.

Over the years, its existence has become a legend, but in 2000 (Heisei 12), a water source was discovered in the local area as a result of the development of beech forests, and a public contest was held to award it as the ``blessing of beech''. It was named.

Although it was damaged in the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake, it was rebuilt at its current location and has become a famous water source that is constantly visited by residents and tourists.

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Sukawadake Hiisui Beech Megumi
  • Location: Genbi-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0191-21-8413 (Tourism Section, Tourism and Products Division, Commerce, Industry and Labor Department, Ichinoseki City Hall)
  • URL: 100 Famous Waters of the Heisei Period Official Website

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Morioka City is a treasure trove of drinkable “famous water”

Morioka City is located in a basin where tributaries such as the Kitakami River, Nakatsu River, and Shizukuishi River flow, and underground water flows from the mountains on all sides, and there is a lot of spring water called ``Shimizu''.

Some of these springs are not maintained or have dried up, but the fresh water we will introduce next is a famous spring water that is delicious and can still be drunk.

Morioka San Shimizu (Morioka San Shimizu)

In addition to the "Daijishimizu" and "Seiryusui" introduced earlier, the other is "Otayashimizu", which is located near Morioka Castle Ruins Park on the main street in Morioka's downtown area, and is famous among locals. It is a famous water that is like an ``urban oasis.''

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Odaya Shimizu
  • Location: 1-3-4 Odori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 019-651-4111 (Morioka City Hall)
  • URL: Morioka City Official Facebook

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Kenji Shimizu

This famous water is located at the foot of the Shimonohashi Bridge over the Nakatsugawa River, and Kenji Miyazawa had a boarding house nearby when he was a student.

It was given this name because it was famous for its water that came out of the well that was used by Kenji.

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summary

Morioka City has been selected as the second place in the "52 Places to Visit in 2023" introduced in the New York Times on January 12, 2023, and has become a hot topic.

It is said that the secret behind the deliciousness of Morioka's three major noodles and coffee is the presence of good water, and Morioka City is a city that not only has famous water but also delicious tap water.

Did you know that Morioka City has the highest consumption of tofu in Japan, where water is the deciding factor in its deliciousness?

There are shops in the city that make delicious tofu, which is said to be thanks to the availability of high-quality water.

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