[Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture] Let's go to the yellow carpet "Kakudana Nanohana Festival"

The Kakudana Nanohana Festival in Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture is held when rape blossoms are in full bloom, heralding the arrival of spring. Approximately 2.5 million yellow flowers bloom on the banks of the Abukuma River with the snow-capped Zao Mountains in the background, attracting locals as well as many tourists.

This time, we will introduce some sightseeing spots in Kakuda that you might want to visit in conjunction with the Kakudana Nanohana Festival, which is usually held from late April to early May.

“The town of rice, beans, plums, dreams, and princesses” Kakuda

Kakuda City is located in the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture, about an hour by car from Sendai City.

It is famous as a city where you can feel close to space, with sites such as the JAXA Kakuda Space Center, which conducts research and development of rocket engines, and the Kakuda City Space Tower Cosmo House, which has a full-scale model of the H-II rocket.
The full-scale model "H-II Rocket" in Taishan Park is 49 meters tall! It's rare to see a rocket towering near where children are playing.

In terms of agriculture, it is one of the prefecture's leading rice producers. Kakuda City's special products include Kakuda's traditional pickled plums, small natto, and ham and sausage.

A yellow carpet “Kakudana Nanohana Festival”

The Kakuda Nanohana Festival is usually held from late April to early May, and various events are held at the adjacent roadside station Kakuda during the festival.

Approximately 2.5 million rapeseed flowers bloom in a 3.2-hectare field, with the backdrop of the Abukuma River, which straddles Fukushima and Miyagi from north to south, and the Zao Mountain Range, which straddles Miyagi and Yamagata from north to south, and attracts many tourists.

When is the best time to see rape blossoms?

The Kakudana Nanohana Festival is scheduled to be held from April 22nd (Saturday) to May 5th (Friday/holiday), 2023.

However, this year, they bloomed 20 days earlier than usual! It's already at its peak. (Information as of April 6th)

Even before the rape blossom festival, you can freely view the rape blossoms blooming on the riverbed. Kakuda City has moved ahead of schedule to begin preparations for walking trails and observation decks.

A few years ago, when I visited the Kakudana Nanohana Festival, there was a viewing platform set up in the middle of the rape field, and I was able to see the whole thing from the hill.
It looked like a yellow carpet all over and it was amazing. The children ran around the rapeseed field, which has a maze-like path, and enjoyed nature to the fullest!

Events are also held during the festival period.

During the rape blossom festival period, a product market and mini-stage event will be held at "Roadside Station Kakuda" near the rape blossom field. Also, a new photo contest will be held.

The field of yellow rapeseed flowers is so vivid that you will have to press the shutter repeatedly.

INFORMATION

• Venue: Abukuma River, right bank downstream of Kakutabashi Bridge (inside Nakayachi, Fujita, Kakuda City)
• Access: Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Kakuda Station on the Abukuma Express Line. Or about 30 minutes by car from Shiroishi IC on the Tohoku Expressway. 10 minutes by car from Yamamoto IC on the Joban Expressway.
• Event period: April 22, 2023 (Saturday) to May 5, 2023 (Friday/Holiday)
• Inquiries: 0224-63-2120 Kakuda City Commerce and Tourism Division

GOOGLE MAP

Tohoku's three major Amida-do temples [Shorakusan Kozo-ji Temple]

Kozoji Amida-do Hall was built in 1177 and is the oldest existing wooden structure in Miyagi Prefecture.

It follows the flow of Hiraizumi culture and was founded by the wife of Fujiwara Hidehira, the third generation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.

Only 26 buildings from the Heian period remain in Japan, and there are only seven remaining Amida-do halls, including Kozo-ji Temple, Byodo-in Temple in Uji, and Sanzen-in Temple in Ohara. It has been designated as an important cultural property of the country, along with the seated statue of Amida Nyorai, which was placed in the hall in 1925.

It is also one of the ``Three Great Amida-do Halls of Tohoku,'' along with Hiraizumi Chusonji Konjiki-do Hall in Iwate Prefecture and Iwaki Shiramizu Amida-do Hall in Fukushima Prefecture.

The Amitabha statue is 2.7m tall, and 5.18m tall if you include the flying cloud halo behind it, making it the largest statue in the Tohoku region. Nowadays, it is mostly jet black, but it is said that in the past, it shone like gold.

INFORMATION

• Address: 49 Takakura Teramae, Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone 0224-65-2038
• Otomyodai Individual: 500 yen
• Access 15 minutes by car from Kakuda Station

GOOGLE MAP

roadside station kakuda

“Roadside Station Kakuda”, which opened in 2019, is a select market that stocks a wide variety of local ingredients from southern Miyagi Prefecture.

Kakuda is one of the prefecture's top producers of perishables that are used as processed foods, such as plums and soybeans. The direct sales shop inside the roadside station sells fresh agricultural products, processed products, sweets, and crafts from Kakuda.

At the food court, you can enjoy meals made with local fresh produce, such as plum oborodon and soft serve ice cream made with Kakuda raw milk.
The authentic pizza made in a wood-fired oven imported directly from Italy is especially popular, and you can enjoy pizza made with seasonal ingredients from the southern part of the prefecture.

In addition, various events are held in the adjacent sports village.
There is also a walking course along the Abukuma River, so walking while looking at the rapeseed fields seems to be a pleasant experience.

Roadside Station Kakuda is not only a shopping spot, but can also be enjoyed as a base for a variety of activities.

INFORMATION

• Address: 81-1 Kitajima, Edano, Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone 0224-61-2850
• Business Hours
  Summer hours (April to October) Direct sales store / 9:00 to 17:30 Food court / 11:00 to 16:00
  Winter hours (November to March) Direct sales store / 9:00 to 17:00 Food court / 11:00-16:00
• Open all year round (closed on December 31st and January 1st)

GOOGLE MAP

Summary of Kakudana no Hana Festival

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At the Kakuda Nanohana Festival, various fun events are held at the roadside station Kakuda near the rapeseed fields.
The rape blossoms are already in bloom as of April 6th, but you can freely view them outside of the festival period.
On a clear day, the mountains of the Zao mountain range covered with lingering snow can be seen, making it a unique photo spot for this time of year!

Be sure to visit Kakuda City to see the photogenic and beautiful scenery.