This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
Located in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture, Ryōzen-machi in Date City is a town famous as a power spot. It is full of attractions, including the historically significant Mt. Ryōzen and Ryōzen Shrine, which have been revered since ancient times, and the traditional Ryōzen Taiko drums! This time, we will also introduce "Michi-no-Eki Date no Sato Ryōzen," a new gourmet spot that has celebrated its 5th anniversary.
History of Ryozen Town
Ryozen Town is located between Fukushima City and Soma City. It is at the northernmost tip of the Abukuma mountain range, and is surrounded by mountains 300-500m high on all sides, with Ryozen at its highest peak at 825m. It is a town rich in nature
It was founded in the first year of the Jogan era (859) by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), the head priest of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei in Kyoto, and is said to have named it "Sacred Mountain" (Ryozen) after Mount Vulture Peak in India
In 2006, it merged with Date Town, Yanagawa Town, Hobara Town, and Tsukidate Town in Date County to become Reizan Town, Date City
sacred mountain
View of the sacred mountain
This mountain has a long history, dating back to the ancient Shugendo temple Ryōzen-ji and later to Ryōzen Castle during the Nanboku-chō period. Founded in 859 by Jikaku Daishi, it became a center for the propagation of Tendai Buddhism in the Tohoku region, with over 3,000 halls and pagodas (places for religious services) and monks' quarters (places for living) built on the mountain, earning it the nickname "Mount Hiei of the North."
The current Mt. Reizan boasts a magnificent combination of rocky terrain and autumn foliage, making it a highly recommended spot during the fall season. The hiking trails are well-maintained and easy to follow, making it suitable for beginners and enjoyable for families. Unusual rock formations such as "Mishita-iwa," "Goma-dan," and "Higashi-no-momi," the highest point of Mt. Reizan, offer excellent viewpoints, allowing you to enjoy a grand panorama of the Azuma-Adatara mountain range, the Abukuma Mountains, and the Pacific Ocean.
It has been designated as one of the New 100 Famous Mountains of Japan, one of the National Places of Scenic Beauty, one of the 100 Most Beautiful Sceneries of Japan, a Prefectural Natural Park, and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Utsukushima
Sacred Mountain <Information>
Mt. Reizan trailhead
Access: Tohoku Chuo Expressway (Soma-Fukushima Road): Approx. 5 minutes from Reizan Iitate IC from the Fukushima direction, Approx. 10 minutes from Soma-Tamano IC from the Soma direction
Parking: 9-1 Ishida Hojizawa, Ryozen-cho, Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, behind Ryozen Children's Village, approximately 80 spaces
Ryozen Shrine, located at the foot of Mount Ryozen, was built to enshrine Kitabatake Akiie and other deities, and is visited by many worshippers from outside the prefecture as a shrine that is said to bring good fortune
The maple trees in the temple grounds are said to have been transplanted from Arashiyama in Kyoto, and the five-colored leaves - red, orange, yellow, yellow-green, and green - create a beautiful sight that has been praised as the "five-colored maple leaves."
The spring and autumn festivals are held on April 29th and early October, and at these festivals, the Ranshin no Mai and the Lion Dance are dedicated. In addition to the long-standing Ranshin Buraku, the Kitamata Lion Dance and the Reizan Taiko drumming, which are designated as intangible folk cultural properties by the city, are also dedicated, making it a tourist spot that attracts many visitors
Address: 1 Furuyadate, Oishi, Ryozen-cho, Date City
Access: 60 minutes by bus from Fukushima Station (get off at "Ryōzen Shrine" bus stop). 45 minutes by car from the Tohoku Expressway "Fukushima Nishi/Fukushima Iizaka IC".
Reizan Taiko is said to have begun in the Kanbun era of the Edo period and has a history of over 350 years. Approximately 60 sets of taiko drums have been preserved and passed down within the town, making it one of the leading taiko towns in the country
The distinctive feature of Reizan Taiko is the spectacular, rapid drumming style, where thick, short drumsticks made of paulownia wood are held high and used to strike the large drum in rapid succession. The Reizan Taiko Festival is held every August, where drum societies from each district gather to showcase powerful, simultaneous drumming.
I have also visited the Reizan Taiko Festival, and the rhythmic sounds of the drums are overwhelming! They are very powerful and moving. The traditional drums, which have a history of over 350 years, have been carefully passed down in the local community
New spot: Roadside Station Date no Sato Ryozen
Roadside Station "Date no Sato Ryozen"
The roadside station "Date no Sato Ryozen" is located in a tranquil mountain area along National Route 115, just off the Reizan Interchange on the Tohoku Chuo Expressway
Date no Sato Ryōzen brings together the best of Date! You can enjoy dishes made with the brand-name chicken "Date Chicken" and homemade gelato made with plenty of freshly squeezed, rich Jersey milk (100%).
Other dishes include fluffy, fragrant freshly baked bread and Tsukidate's specialty, Kotehime udon, so you'll have a hard time deciding what to eat!
What's more, you can also experience fruit picking, which is rare at roadside stations. Depending on the season, you can pick strawberries, peaches, and apples, making it a great way to create memories with your family. (Advance reservations required)
Roadside station recommendation: strawberry cider
We recommend the strawberry cider, made with strawberries from local strawberry farm Matsubaen!
Matsubaen, the producer of strawberry cider, sells freshly picked strawberries directly during strawberry season and also has a café where they sell "Melting Fruit Frozen Cotton" year-round. As a strawberry orchard, they are able to flash-freeze freshly picked strawberries while they are still fresh!
We recommend pouring condensed milk over it. The sweet and sour taste of the strawberries will fill your mouth with happiness
In addition to strawberry, you can enjoy a variety of seasonal fruit flavors, such as Shine Muscat and peach
It wasn't that hot today, but if something catches your eye, you just have to go! I went to MATSUBAEN in Ryozen, Date City for their "Melting Fruit Frozen Cotton," which was obviously strawberry! I thought it was strawberry shaved ice, but when I tried it (*・｀o´・*) Wow! "Strawberry! It's strawberry!" This is a completely new texture! Thank you for the meal. pic.twitter.com/O9q3LuAqAY
— Resident of Seimei Town (@00seimei55) July 15, 2019
Matsubaen ＜Information＞
Name: Matsubaen
Address: 42 Kamiochiai, Yamatoda, Ryozen-cho, Date City
With the completion of the Tohoku Chuo Expressway Reizan Interchange, Reizan now has better access to the Tohoku Expressway. The area is also home to a wide variety of local delicacies, including the brand chicken Date chicken and local fruit
The spots introduced here are all quite close together, so they're also recommended for day trips. Why not visit Mount Sacred Mountain to enjoy the magnificent scenery and natural beauty?
A housewife and writer born and raised in Fukushima. She
loves freshly picked Fukushima "hard peaches." Her
hobbies include driving and gourmet food.
She hopes to share the charm of Tohoku with others.
![The Ancient Emishi Hero Aterui and the 38-Year Tohoku War [Part 2] | Major Battles in Ancient Tohoku and Their History](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/8f4979ebfa4c5bcbf24ba36c0826a52a-300x300.jpg.webp)
