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
our series on the Chokaisan-Tobishima GeoparkIn the first part of, we introduced geosites along the Sea of Japan coast, such as "Kujukushima (Kisakata)" and "Misaki Coast." In the second part, we will introduce inland geosites and the wisdom of our ancestors in coexisting with the global environment.
Nakajimadaiis a forest and wetland area located at the foot of Mt. Chokai, at an altitude of approximately 450m to 830m, andChokai Natural Recreation Forestis designated as
Spanning approximately 942 hectares (about 200 Tokyo Domes),bythe area boasts abundant nature bestowed by Mount Chokai, including giant beech and oak trees, and the Shishigahana Marsh, formed
The Nakajimadai-Shishigahana Marshland has a walking trail made of wooden boardwalks that circles the area for approximately 5 km. Along the trail,agari-ko,there are giant beech and oak trees with unusual shapes known asGiants of the Forest,which has been selected as oneAgariko Daio," they create a mystical landscape.
Shishigahana Marsh is located at an altitude of 550m and is nourished by abundant spring water, allowing a wide variety of aquatic wetland plants to grow
Among these, Handel's moss and Platycodon platypus are rare even worldwide, and when these mosses grow together in a ball shape, they are commonly known as "Chokai Marimo."
In addition, the wetland features springs known as "detsubo" and cliffs at the end of lava flows from Mount Chokai, and has been designated a national natural monument.
Nakajimadai/Shishigahana Marshland<Information>
Facility name: Nakajimadai/Shishigahana Marsh
Location: Nakajimadai National Forest, Yokooka, Kisakata-cho, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0184-43-6608 (Nikaho City Tourism Association)
Google Map
Naso Valley: A 500m vertical wall where lava flowing from multiple eruptions is piled up like a mille-feuille
Naso Valleyis a gorge located near the 6th station of Mount Chokai, with a depth of approximately 300m to 500m. Over many years, the river has eroded layers of lava, creating a V-shaped gorge.
The sheer cliffs are made up of lava from Mt. Chokai, which has erupted repeatedly since about 600,000 years ago, piled up and resemble a mille-feuille. The lava at the bottom of the valley is said to be 400,000 to 450,000 years old, and the lava at the top is about 100,000 years old
Naso Valley is impressive just looking up at it from below, but you can also get a bird's-eye view of the valley from the Hokotate Observatory at the 5th station of Mt. Chokai
The valley that can be seen below Hokotate Observatory is 337m deep, and Tokyo Tower (333m) could fit inside it. You can reach Hokotate Observatory via the Chokai Blue Line (closed for winter from early November to late April), which runs along the middle of Mount Chokai. From Hokotate Observatory, you can see all the way to Tobishima Island and the Oga Peninsula below, making it one of the best views in the Nikaho area
Naso Valley<Information>
Facility name: Naso Valley (Hokotate Observatory)
Location: Kotaki (Hokotate), Kisakata-cho, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
Naso no Shirataki is a famous waterfall located near the starting point of the Chokai Blue Line on the Akita Prefecture side
also known as Kinpo Jinja), which was a base for Shugenja (Kinpo Shrinemountain ascetics) who used Mount Chokai as a training ground, and climbing and descending a long staircase, you will reach a waterfall. The waterfall is 26 meters high and 11 meters wide, and is designated as a national scenic spot. You can descend to the base of the waterfall, and enjoy the waterfall from various angles, including from an observation deck, within the shrine grounds, and across a suspension bridge.
Naso no Shirataki Waterfall / Kinpu Shrine<Information>
Facility name: Naso Shirataki/Kinbo Shrine
Location: Otaki, Nasozawa-Ohido, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0184-43-6608 (Nikaho City Tourism Association)
Google Map
A comfortable mountain highway: the Chokai Blue Line
, stretching from Naso no Shirataki in Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City,in Yuza-machi, Yamagata PrefectureJuroku Rakan)Fukiurais a mountain scenic road approximately 34.9 km long
to the tourist attraction "SixteenYuza Town's Fukiura, homeHokodate(Naso Valley Hokodate Observatory) at 1,150m. The difference in altitude is over 1,000m, and the route runs through grasslands on the Akita Prefecture side and through beech forests on the Yamagata Prefecture side.
From the Akita Prefecture side, the Sea of Japan stretches out to sea, and on the opposite mountain side, the majestic landscape of the Naso Valley looms
The Chokai Blue Line passes through a heavy snow area and is therefore closed from early November to late April. There is no toll, but please be careful when driving as it is a popular spot for bicycle touring
Chokai Blue Line<Information>
Facility name: Chokai Blue Line
Akita Prefecture side / Prefectural Route 131, Chokai Park Kotaki Line: 18.1km from Kotaki (prefectural border) to Kotaki (Naso Shirataki)
Yamagata Prefecture side / Prefectural Route 210, Chokai Park Fukiura Line, from Fukiura (prefectural border) to Fukiura (Juroku Rakan Rocks), 16.8km
Passable period: Late April to early November *The passable period may vary depending on weather conditions
Nikaho Plateauis a hilly area about 500m above sea level, formed by rocks that fell like an avalanche (rock avalanche) during a landslide on Mount Chokai.
The grasslands are dotted with lakes, marshes, and large-scale wind power facilities. From the observation deck of Hibari-so, the base facility of Nikaho Plateau,you can see not only the majestic Mount Chokai but also the Sea of Japan, and the 360-degree panoramic view is a must-see.
The area is dotted with ranches and campgrounds, and cycling paths are well-maintained.Tsuchida Ranch, the milk, yogurt, and cheese made from the raw milk of their Jersey cows are extremely popular. Their sausages are also highly regarded.
Nikabo Highland<Information>
Facility name: Nikaho Plateau
Location: Baba Magashigoya, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture, and other locations
Facility name: Hibari-so/Nigahokogen Observatory
Address: 4-5 Baba Magushigoya, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0184-43-3230 (Nikaho City Tourism Division)
Opening period: May to end of November
Facility name: Tsuchida Farm
Address: 4-6 Toshiyama, Baba, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
Phone number: 0184-36-2348
Opening hours:
March to December: 9:00 to 17:00
January and February: 9:30-17:00
Closed: Irregular holidays (please inquire in advance)
which has been in operation since 2001Nikaho Plateau Wind Power Plant,which began commercial operation in 2020.Nikaho No. 2 Wind Power PlantHowever, the "Nikaho Plateau Wind Power Plant" has been undergoing replacement work since 2021.
Construction was completed in March 2024, and the completely new "Shin-Nigahokogen Wind Power Plant" began commercial operation
The Shin-Nigahokogen Wind Farm originally had five wind turbines (each with an output of 1,650kW), but this has been upgraded to six 4,300kW wind turbines, the largest in Japan. The output remains unchanged from before the replacement (operation is restricted to the previous output of 24,750kW), bringing the total power generation at Nikahokogen to 66,150kW
The Kamigo warm water canals were invented by farmers who used the cold meltwater from Mt. Chokai for rice cultivation, in order to warm the water, which was too cold, to a temperature suitable for rice cultivation
The meltwater from Mt. Chokai is only around 10°C even in summer, which is too cold for rice cultivation and does not promote good growth. Therefore, methods were devised to make the waterways wider, shallower, and with steps to expose the meltwater to sunlight and heat it up. This resulted in a rise in water temperature of 2 to 8°C, which dramatically increased rice yields
The first hot water channel in Japan was the 648m long Nagaoka Hot Water Channel, built in 1927 (Showa 2). Many other hot water channels have been built since then, including the Omori Hot Water Channel and the Mizuoka Hot Water Channel, with a total length of 6.28km
"Kamigo Hot Spring Canal Group" is one of the "100 Best Irrigation Canals" designated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, anda tangible cultural property (building) designated by Akita Prefecture.
Kamigo Warm Water Canals <Information>
Facility name: Kamigo hot water channels
Location: Yokooka, Kisakata-cho, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture, and other locations
Phone number: 0184-43-3230 (Nikaho City Tourism Division)
Google Map
Yuri Coast Wave-breaking Stone Wall Protected Houses and Farmland from Large Waves and Winds
Yuri coast wave prevention stone wall＜Information＞
Facility name: Yuri Coast Wave Breaking Stone Wall
Location: Tobi, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture, Serida, Nikaho City
Phone number: 0184-43-3230 (Nikaho City Tourism Division)
Google Map
The Innai Oil Field, once one of Japan's leading oil producers
The numerous Tchaikovsky wells indicate the abundance of oil production. The Innai Oil Field in its heyday. Mount Chokai-Tobishima Geopark
The Innai Oil Field(Innai, Nikaho City) was once one of the leading oil fields in Japan, and its site is preserved as part of the "Modern Industrial Heritage Group 33: A group of modern industrial heritage sites that tell the story of the development of Japan's modern petroleum industry, which began in Niigata and other parts of the Kanto-Koshinetsu region," selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Award.
Japan's oil industry began with mining in Echigo (Niigata Prefecture) in the late 16th century. It got fully underway in the early Meiji period, when engineers were invited from the United States to conduct oil reserve surveys mainly in the Koshinetsu and northern Japan regions
The first oil to be produced since the Meiji era was in Sagara Town, Shizuoka Prefecture (Sagara, Makinohara City) in 1873. After that, large oil fields were discovered on the Sea of Japan side of Niigata Prefecture, and Japan's oil industry boomed
At the end of the Meiji period, the wave of oil development reached not only Niigata Prefecture, but also Akita Prefecture. In 1914 (Taisho 3), a large amount of crude oil gushed out from an oil field discovered in Akita City. This attracted the attention of many oil companies, and an oil development boom arrived in Akita Prefecture
The existence of an oil field in Innai, Nikaho City was apparently discovered in the late Meiji period, but full-scale exploration began in 1922 (Taisho 11), with successful oil production the following year in 1923. In 1932 (Showa 7), Asahi Oil (the predecessor to Showa Oil [now Idemitsu Kosan]) succeeded in producing 8 kiloliters of oil per day
The Innai Oil Field reached its peak in 1935 (Showa 10), with a total annual production of 110,000 kiloliters, making it one of Japan's leading oil fields. However, production gradually declined due to the depletion of resources and a decline in international competitiveness, and the mine was closed in 1995 (Heisei 7)
The 33rd Modern Industrial Heritage Site, "Modern Industrial Heritage Sites that tell the story of the development of Japan's modern petroleum industry, which began in Niigata and other parts of the Kanto-Koshinetsu region," includes, in addition to the "InnaiOil,Field Related Heritage Sites" (Katagami City, Akita Prefecture), the "Kanazu Oil(Oil Village Park)" (Akiha Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture),Field Related Heritage Sites" (Izumozaki Town, Niigata Prefecture), and the "Sagara Oil Field Related Heritage Sites" (Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture).
My love of travel led me to work for a travel magazine some time ago, and now I work as a travel writer for an online publication. I have visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, focusing on the Tohoku region, and I enjoy soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture, including old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts
