[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 alcohol, and delicious water can be found all over the prefecture.

The prefecture is surrounded on three sides by the World Heritage Shirakami Mountains in the north, the Waga Mountains that form part of the Ou Mountains in the east, and Mt. Chokai in the south, and each area has vast primeval forests such as beech trees, which function as water sources. This is because

Akita Obako has long been known for its fair skin and beautiful skin, and it is said that this is due in part to this delicious water.

What is “famous water”?

From Akita Prefecture official tourism website

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.

Akita Prefecture's famous waters selected as one of the "100 Best Waters Selected by the Ministry of the Environment"

Two locations were selected from Akita Prefecture: Misato Town, where the sake brewing industry has been flourishing since ancient times using famous water and Akita rice, and Yuzawa City in the Yokote Basin, which is famous for heavy snowfall.

Rokugo Yusuigun (Misato Town, Semboku District)

Rokugo is located on the alluvial fan of the Maruko River, where the Ou Mountains flow, and abundant fresh water gushes out in various places.

From Akita Prefecture official tourism website

These fresh waters are used by local people to store drinking water, vegetables and fruits, and serve as natural refrigerators to cool down drinks.In the summer, they serve as a place for children to play in the water, and are also used as ingredients for local sake and local cider. It is. Misato Town's website introduces 26 clean water sources, including Odaidokoro Shimizu, which was the purveyor of water for the Satake clan, the lord of the Akita domain.

INFORMATION

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Power water (Chikaramizu: Furutateyama, Yuzawa City)

It is said that the clear water that gushes out from the foot of Mt. Furudate, the ruins of Yuzawa Castle, came to be called ``Shikisui'' because the lord of the castle, the Satake lord, loved drinking it as ``water that gives strength to the body.''

Located in the urban area near Yuzawa City Hall, many residents come to collect water as it is considered to be a delicious local water source.

INFORMATION

In the list of 100 Famous Waters of the Heisei Era, two locations were selected from Nikaho City in the south of the prefecture, where underground water from Mt. Chokai, which rises on the border with Yamagata Prefecture, gushes out.

GOOGLE MAP

Mototaki Underwater Water (Nikaho City)

It is underground water that gushes out like a waterfall with a width of 30m and a height of 5m from the end of a lava flow created by an eruption of Mt. Chokai approximately 100,000 years ago.It is said that it took 80 years for the water to come out. I am.

From Akita Prefecture official tourism website

There is an abundant amount of water throughout the year, and the water temperature remains at a constant 10 degrees Celsius. Surrounded by forest and moss, it is popular for its negative ion soothing effect.

Although you cannot get close to the source of the water, there is a pipe leading to the water on the promenade leading to the waterfall, and you can drink it.

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Mototaki underground water
  • Location: Hongo Mashin Weir, Zogata-cho, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0184-43-3230 (Tourism Division, Nikaho City Commerce and Tourism Department)
  • URL: Nikaho City Tourist Information Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

Shishigahana Wetland “Detsubo” (Shishigahana Wetland “Detsubo”: Nikaho City)

Located within Chokai Quasi-National Park, it is a slightly acidic spring water that is bubbling up in the middle of a beech forest.

From Akita Prefecture official tourism website

Although it is not suitable for drinking, it is locally called the ``bear watering hole,'' and it is thought that wild animals such as bears and deer use the water to treat wounds and prevent illness. It is.

Rare creatures such as the Chokai marimo, which live in the acidic environment and the low temperature of 7 to 8 degrees Celsius throughout the year, can be seen here.

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Shishigahana Wetland “Datsubo”
  • 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)
  • URL: Akita Prefecture official tourism website

GOOGLE MAP

Arayawakusui group in Akita city

Araya-cho, located southwest of the center of Akita City, has long been known for its good spring water.

Rain and snow that fall on the slightly elevated Araya Sand Dunes that extend from north to south along the coastline on the west side of town collect in the groundwater layer 20 meters underground, and flow out as spring water from various parts of Araya Town.

This town has an abundance of water, and in the past was popular for producing sake, miso, and soy sauce, and up until the beginning of the Showa era, there were over 500 springs and wells.

However, this spring water is now scarce, and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city's incorporation in 1989, stone pillars marking the ``Water Village'' were erected at the following four locations to preserve them beautifully.

  • Yakuoin Shita Yusui no Sato
  • Atagoshita Ojizo Yusui no Sato
  • Jissojimae Yusui no Sato
  • Monzen Town Yusui no Sato

INFORMATION

Facility name: Araya Yusui Group
Location: Araya Hiyoshicho, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 018-863-2222 (Akita City Hall information)
URL: Ministry of the Environment Spring Water Conservation Portal Site

GOOGLE MAP

Choju no Izumi, a fountain of longevity that produces good sake

There were 12 sake breweries in Arayamachi during the Meiji period, but Akita Sake Brewery is the only one left today.

From Akita Sake Brewery official website

Akita Sake Brewery's two brands, ``Suirakuten'' and ``Akita Haru,'' use spring water named ``Longevity Spring'' located on the grounds of the brewery.

The water source is managed by Akita Sake Brewery, but outside of the brewing period, from spring to autumn, it is open to the public by flowing water through a pipe facing the road.

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summary

In addition to the ones introduced here, there are many other springs throughout the prefecture, including Akita City, Kitaakita City, Daisen City, Yokote City, and Yuzawa City, which are used for domestic and agricultural purposes.

In addition, natural water from places like Shirakami Sanchi and Mt. Chokai can be purchased online as mineral water, but why not go there and enjoy it in the midst of untouched nature?

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