[Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture] Esashi Fujiwara no Sato is a famous filming location for taiga dramas! You can see, touch and experience the beauty of the Heian period.

Esashi Fujiwara no Sato is a historical park that focuses on the Heian period. You could call it Oshu Fujiwara's theme park. It was built as an open set for NHK's taiga drama ``Flame''. When the set was completed, it was planned to be used not only for this drama, but also as a park in the future.

It has become a filming location for many taiga dramas.

After ``Burning'', it became the filming location for numerous historical dramas, including ``Toshiie to Matsu'', ``Sanadamaru'', ``Tenchijin'', ``Ryomaden'', and ``Naotora''. It is also famous for being the setting for the popular variety show "On the Run". A free shuttle bus departs from Mizusawa Esashi Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen.

Many exhibits inside the building

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When you enter through the south gate, the government office from the Ritsuryo era stands in front of you. When you enter the main hall, you will find a doll of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Here, the scene where he is appointed as the lord of Mutsu is reenacted. The side hall, which is connected to the main hall by a corridor, has a variety of exhibits. Historical games are on display, one of which is shellfish.

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You can experience games from the Heian period.

In the Edo period, shell matching was a game of turning shells upside down and matching the pictures drawn on the front side. This is what is called a current nervous breakdown. In the Heian period, this changed to a game of competing for the beauty of shellfish. It is said that they sometimes wrote songs about the names and shapes of shellfish.

Sugoroku from the Heian period is also on display. During the Heian period, this sugoroku was often used for gambling. As a result, bans were often issued. You can actually touch and play with this sugoroku and shellfish combination.

Armor is also on display. And this armor can actually be worn. There are also weapons, so you can enjoy cosplay. Of course, you can also take photos in front of the government building with the Heian period buildings in the background. Benkei props are also on display, and you are allowed to pick them up and take photos.

A thorough experience course is recommended.

After viewing the government buildings, you can choose between a 50-minute express experience course or a 120-minute leisurely experience course. The leisurely experience course requires a lot of walking, but it is recommended because it allows you to visit many spots. If you go up the Mikaeri slope, you will arrive at Kiyohirakan. This gate of Kiyohirakan was used as the gate of the Sanada family in "Sanada Maru".

Kiyohirakan itself also appears in Sanada Maru as the Takeda clan's Shinpu Castle. Inside the Shinden-zukuri structure, there are beautiful folding screens and curtains reminiscent of the Heian period. One of the great appeals of Esashi Fujiwara no Sato is that you can actually go inside the buildings, touch things, and experience things rather than just looking at them.

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