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[Akita Prefecture] 4 famous waters in Akita Prefecture and the Arayawakusui group in Akita City! Delicious rice and local sake are works of art made with famous water.
[Akita Prefecture] 4 famous waters in Akita Prefecture and the Arayawakusui group in Akita City! Delicious rice and local sake are works of art made with famous water.
Akita Prefecture is known for its delicious rice and sake, and delicious spring water springs up all over the prefecture
The prefecture is surrounded on three sides by the Shirakami Mountains, a World Heritage Site in the north, the Waga Mountains, which form part of the Ou Mountains in the east, and Mount Chokai in the south, and each of these areas is home to vast primeval forests of beech trees and other trees, which serve as water sources
Since ancient times, Akita Obako have been known for their fair and beautiful skin, and this is said to be thanks to this delicious water
What is “famous water”?
Mototaki Underground 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.
A famous water source in Akita Prefecture, selected as one of the "100 Famous Waters Selected by the Ministry of the Environment"
Two locations were selected from within Akita Prefecture: Misato Town, which has a long history of brewing sake using quality water and Akita rice, and Yuzawa City in the Yokote Basin, which is famous for its heavy snowfall
Rokugo Springs: Misato Town, Senboku District
Rokugo is located on the alluvial fan of the Maruko River, which flows out of the Ou Mountains, and abundant, clear water springs up in many places
These springs are used by local people as drinking water, for washing vegetables and fruits, and as a natural refrigerator to cool drinks, and in the summer they are also used as a place for children to play in the water, and the springs are also used as ingredients for local sake and cider. Misato Town's website introduces 26 springs, including the "Odaidokoro-shimizu" spring, which was used by the Satake clan, the lords of the Akita domain
INFORMATION
Facility name: Rokugo Springs
Location: Rokugo, Misato-cho, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0187-84-0110 (Misato Town Tourism Association)
This pure water springs from the foot of Mount Furutate, the site of Yuzawa Castle, and is said to have come to be known as "power water" because the castle owner, Lord Satake, loved to drink it as "water that gives strength to the body."
Located in the city center near Yuzawa City Hall, many residents come to collect the delicious water from the area
INFORMATION
Facility name: Chikara-sui
Location: Furudateyama, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
Two locations in Nikaho City in the southern part of the prefecture, where underground water from Mount Chokai, which towers on the border with Yamagata Prefecture, have been selected as part of the 100 Best Waters of the Heisei Era
GOOGLE MAP
Mototaki Underground Water: Nikaho City
This underground water springs out from the end of a lava flow created by the eruption of Mt. Chokai approximately 100,000 years ago, like a waterfall with a width of 30 meters and a drop of 5 meters.It is said to have taken 80 years for the water to spring forth
There is an abundant amount of water throughout the year, and the water temperature remains constant at 10°C. It is surrounded by forest and moss, and is popular for its soothing negative ions
You cannot get close to the spring, but there is a piped spring water on the walking path to the falls where you can drink it
INFORMATION
Facility name: Mototaki Underground Water
Location: Asahari Weir, Hongo, Kisakata-cho, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0184-43-3230 (Nikaho City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Department, Tourism Division)
This spring water, which is slightly acidic, springs up in the middle of a beech forest in Chokai Quasi-National Park
Although it is not suitable for drinking, it is known locally as the "bear watering hole," and it is believed that wild animals such as bears and deer use it to treat wounds and prevent illness
Rare organisms such as the Chokai Marimo, which live in the acidity and low temperatures of 7-8°C throughout the year, can be seen here
INFORMATION
Facility name: Shishigahana Marsh "Detsubo"
Location: Nakashimatai National Forest, Yokooka, Nakajima-tai, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0184-43-3230 (Nikaho City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Department Tourism Division
Araya-cho, located southwest of the center of Akita City, has long been known for its good quality spring water
Rain and snow that falls on the Araya Sand Dunes, a small hill stretching north and south along the coastline on the west side of the town, collects in an underground aquifer 20 meters below ground and flows out as springs in various places in Araya Town
This town, which has an abundance of water, once thrived as a brewery for sake, miso, soy sauce, and other products, and until the beginning of the Showa era, there were over 500 springs and wells
However, the spring water has now become scarce, and in 1989, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city's establishment, stone pillars bearing the words "Water Village" were erected at the four remaining locations, and the area is now well preserved
There were 12 sake breweries in Araya-cho during the Meiji period, but the only one remaining today is Akita Sake Brewery
Akita Brewery's two brands, "Suirakuten" and "Akitabare," use spring water named "Choju no Izumi" (Fountain of Longevity) located on the brewery grounds
The water source is managed by Akita Sake Brewery, but outside of the brewing season, from spring to autumn, water is made available to the public through a pipe facing the road
INFORMATION
Facility name: Akita Shuzo Co., Ltd
Address: 23-28 Araya Motomachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
In addition to the ones introduced here, there are many other springs of water throughout the prefecture, including Akita City, Kitaakita City, Daisen City, Yokote City, and Yuzawa City, which are used for domestic and agricultural purposes
Additionally, natural waters from Shirakami-Sanchi and Mt. Chokai can be purchased as mineral water through online shopping, but why not go to the locations and try it in the midst of untouched nature?
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
![4550228_m](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/4550228_m-150x150.jpg.webp "Hot springs gush out in a place where there are no volcanoes! "Yuzawa Geopark" where you can see the mystery of the earth up close [Akita Prefecture]")
