[Yamagata Prefecture] 3 famous waters in Yamagata Prefecture! Yamagata Prefecture is home to blessed water created by snow, mountains, and forests.

Yamagata Prefecture, home to many famous mountains such as Mt. Chokai, Mt. Zao, and Mt. Dewa Sanzan (Mt. Gassan, Mt. Haguro, and Mt. Yudono), boasts the largest area of ​​natural beech forest in Japan, and its mountains and forests can withstand plenty of snow. It is a never-ending source of water and brings bountiful crops.

It is said that it is thanks to its abundant water that it is the largest producer of wild vegetables such as bracken and taranome, as well as fruits such as cherries and pears, as well as delicious rice and brewed sake and wine. is.

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.

Famous waters of Yamagata Prefecture selected as one of the 100 Famous Waters Selected by the Ministry of the Environment

The springs that spring up around the foot of Mt. Gassan, one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains in Bandai-Asahi National Park, and the Omigawa River, part of the Mogami River system, have been selected.

Gassanrokuyuusuigun (Nishikawa Town, Nishimurayama District)

Mt. Gassan is famous for its deep snow, which has perpetual snow that does not melt even in summer, making it ideal for summer skiing, but the rich water source is stored in a vast primeval beech forest, and over 400 years springs up here and there at the foot of the mountain. I'm letting you do it.

The water quality is neutral, soft water rich in carbon dioxide gas, oxygen, minerals, etc., and the water temperature is maintained at 5℃ throughout the year and is sold as mineral water.

Mt. Gassan is famous for its deep snow, which has perpetual snow that does not melt even in summer, making it ideal for summer skiing, but the rich water source is stored in a vast primeval beech forest, and over 400 years springs up here and there at the foot of the mountain. I'm letting you do it.

The water quality is neutral and soft, rich in carbon dioxide, oxygen, and minerals, and the water temperature is maintained at 5℃ throughout the year and is sold as mineral water.

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Gassan foot springs
  • Location: Shizu, Nishikawa-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0237-74-2112 (General Affairs and Planning Division, Nishikawa Town, Yamagata Prefecture)
  • URL: Nishikawa Town official website

GOOGLE MAP

Omigawa (Omigawa: Higashine City)

The Otomi/Hairi area is located on an alluvial fan where underground water from the Ou Mountains water system flows, and if you dig it, you can find clean water. Masu.

Although the water force has become weaker than in the past, there is still "Donko water" that still gushes out from the water, and because the water temperature is almost constant at 11 to 13 degrees Celsius, it is carefully managed by the local community as a spring water that is cold in summer and warm in winter. Masu.

In addition, the Omigawa River is home to the Ibarato Miyo, an endangered species designated as a natural monument by Yamagata Prefecture, and activities are being carried out to conserve these as well as other aquatic animals.

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Omigawa
  • Location: Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0237-42-1111 (Higashine City Citizen Life Department Living Environment Division)
  • URL: Higashine City official website

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Famous waters of Yamagata Prefecture selected as one of the 100 best waters of the Heisei era selected by the Environment Agency

Tachiyazawa River, a tributary of the Mogami River system that flows through the northern part of the prefecture, was once known as the ``Most Beautiful River in Tohoku,'' and is the only famous river in Yamagata Prefecture.

Tachiyazawa River (Shonai Town, Higashitagawa District)

The Tateyazawa River basin, which was once a popular approach to the inner shrine of Dewa Sanzan, originates from the melting snow of Mt. Gassan.

From the Shonai Town Tourist Information Site in Yamagata Prefecture

In the summer, sweetfish and cherry salmon swim upstream, and in the winter, char and mozuku crab are farmed.The water is used for drinking and domestic purposes by the residents of the basin, and for agricultural purposes in the Shonai Plain.

The area where the area joins the Mogami River is the origin of high-quality rice such as Sasanishiki and Koshihikari, and is also the area where Kamenoo, which is considered the best rice for sake brewing, was produced.

INFORMATION

  • Facility name: Tateyasawa River
  • Location: Shonai Town, Higashitagawa District, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0234-43-0254
  • URL: Shonai Town official website

GOOGLE MAP

Excellent spring water selected as one of the ``100 Famous Village Waters in Yamagata''

71 locations selected from 4 regions within Yamagata Prefecture

In Yamagata Prefecture, excellent spring water that has been nurtured in the region is selected from among the spring water found in various parts of the prefecture as "Yamagata 100 Famous Waters of the Village", and as of November 30, 2022, it has been selected from four regions. 71 locations have been selected.

  • 25 locations in Murayama area
  • 10 locations in Mogami area
  • 11 locations in Okitama area
  • 25 locations within the province

These ``village famous waters'' are carefully protected by the local community, so be careful not to pollute or disturb them when visiting.

INFORMATION

Mysterious underground water that springs up on the Kamaiso coast

From the Yamagata Shonai tourism website

Kamaiso Beach in Yuza Town, facing the Sea of ​​Japan, is a popular beach in the summer, but fresh water rather than sea water gushes out from the sandy beaches of this coast, creating an unusual marble-like pattern that is a mixture of white sand and black iron sand. It can be done.

Mysterious spring water gushing out on the sandy beach

Cold groundwater, sourced from Mt. Chokai, gushes out from sandy beaches, the seabed, and rocky areas, and you can enjoy mysterious phenomena such as sudden changes in seawater temperature that you won't find at other beaches.

From the Yamagata Shonai tourism website

By delivering mountain minerals to the sea in this way, the rock oysters in the Sea of ​​Japan grow large and creamy and delicious.

INFORMATION

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"Delicious Yamagata Water" is now on sale!

We sell tap water taken from a water purification plant operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Enterprise Bureau in plastic bottles (500ml) for 100 yen (tax included) each.

You can purchase it at the Yamagata prefectural office store, each general branch office store, and at the antenna shop "Oishii Yamagata Plaza" located in Ginza 1-chome, Tokyo.

INFORMATION

summary

Yamagata Prefecture, where the entire prefecture is covered in deep snow and has many mountains and forests, is rich in clean rivers and spring water, and the delicious water is used to grow agricultural products such as rice, branded beef such as Yamagata beef and Yonezawa beef, and sake and wine. is brewing.

Additionally, there are many springs and wells in each region of the prefecture that are said to be hidden gems of water that only those in the know know about, and by exploring them, you can learn how much the local people cherish the blessings of water. Probably.

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