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

The Kakuda Nanohana Festival in Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture, is held when the rape blossoms are in full bloom, heralding the arrival of spring. With the snow-capped Zao mountain range in the background, approximately 2.5 million yellow flowers bloom along the Abukuma River riverbed, attracting many tourists as well as locals

This time, we will also introduce tourist attractions in Kakuda that you should visit in conjunction with the Kakuda Rape Flower Festival, which is held every year from late April to early May

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"Town of rice, beans, plums, dreams and princesses" Kakuta

Kakuta City is located in the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture, just under an hour's drive from Sendai city

The city is also famous for being a place where you can feel close to space, with the JAXA Kakuda Space Center, which conducts research and development on rocket engines, and the Kakuda City Space Tower Cosmo House, which houses a full-scale model of
the H-II rocket. The full-scale model of the H-II rocket in Taiyama Park is an astounding 49 meters tall! It's quite unusual to see a rocket towering over children playing nearby.

In agriculture, it is one of the prefecture's leading rice-producing areas. Kakuda's specialty products include traditional Kakuda pickled plums, small-grain natto, ham and sausages

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A yellow carpet at the Kakuda Nanohana Festival

The Kakuda Nanohana Festival is held every year from late April to early May, and during this period various events are held at the adjacent Kakuda Roadside Station

With the Abukuma River, which stretches north to south between Fukushima and Miyagi, and the Zao mountain range, which stretches north to south between Miyagi and Yamagata, as its backdrop, approximately 2.5 million rapeseed flowers bloom in the 3.2 hectare field, attracting many tourists

When is the best time to see rape blossoms?

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

However, this year the flowers have bloomed 20 days earlier than usual! They are already in full bloom. (Information as of April 6th)

Even before the Rape Flower Festival begins, people will be able to freely view the rapeseed flowers blooming along the riverbank. Kakuda City is moving up its schedule to start preparations for walking paths and observation decks

A few years ago, when I visited the Kakuda Nanohana Festival, there was an observation deck set up in the middle of the field, and we could see the whole area from the high vantage point. It was a spectacular sight, like a yellow carpet all around.
The children ran around the field, with its maze-like paths, enjoying the nature to the fullest!

Events are also held during the festival period

During the festival, a local product market and a mini stage event will be held at the Kakuda Roadside Station near the rapeseed fields. A new photo contest will also be held

The expansive yellow rapeseed flower field is so vibrant that you'll find yourself taking pictures over and over again

Kakuda Rape Flower Festival <Information>

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

Google Map

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Tohoku's Three Great Amida Halls [Shorakuzan Kozoji Temple]

Kozoji Amida Hall was built in 1177 and is the oldest surviving wooden building in Miyagi Prefecture

It is a descendant of Hiraizumi culture and was founded by the wife of Fujiwara Hidehira, the third head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan

Only 26 buildings from the Heian period remain in Japan, and the Amida Hall is one of only seven remaining, including Kozoji Temple, Byodoin Temple in Uji, and Sanzenin Temple in Ohara, making it a rare and precious cultural heritage site.Together with the seated statue of Amida Buddha that was enshrined within the hall in 1950, it has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan

It is also one of the "Three Great Amida Halls of the Tohoku Region," along with the Golden Hall of Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, and the Shiramizu Amida Hall in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture

The Amida statue is 2.7m tall, and including the flying cloud halo behind it it is 5.18m tall, making it the largest Buddha statue in the Tohoku region. It is now almost jet black, but it is said to have once shone golden

Kozoji Amida-do <Information>

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

Google Map

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Kakuda Roadside Station

Kakuda Roadside Station, 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 fresh produce that can be processed into foods, such as plums and soybeans. The direct sales store inside the roadside station sells fresh agricultural products, processed goods, sweets, and crafts from Kakuda

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

In addition, various events are held at the adjacent Sports Village.
There is also a walking course along the Abukuma River, so it looks like it would be pleasant to take a walk while looking at the rapeseed flower fields.

Kakuda Roadside Station is not only a great shopping spot, but also a base for a wide range of activities

Kakuda Roadside Station <Information>

• Address: 81-1 Kitajima, Edano, Kakuta 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 to 16:00
• Open all year round (closed on December 31st and January 1st)

Google Map

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Summary of the Kakuda Rape Flower Festival

The Kakuda Nanohana Festival will be held at the Kakuda Roadside Station, located near the nanohana fields, and will feature a variety of fun events.
The nanohana flowers will already be in bloom as of April 6th, but you can freely view them outside of the festival period as well.
On clear days, the view of the Zao mountain range, still covered in snow, makes for a great photo spot that's unique to this time of year!

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

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