The sacred mountain "Shichizayama" and "Kimimachizaka" associated with Emperor Meiji [Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture]

Futatsuiis a region located in the eastern part of Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture. It was formerly an independent municipality called Futatsui-machi. In 2006, it merged with Noshiro City and is now part of Noshiro City.

---

Futatsui has been inhabited since ancient times. Abe no Hirafu, who conquered the Emishi, also left his mark

Futatsui is a town dotted with settlements along the Yoneshiro River, and developed through the water transport of Akita cedar and products from mines developed during the Edo period. It is known that people have lived in this area since ancient times, and ruins from the Jomon and Yayoi periods have been discovered

where the river makes two large hairpin bends andthe AnigawaandFujikotogawawas known as the most difficult section of the Yoneshiro River,Abe no Hirafuthe undevelopedEmishi(Tohoku region) and head towards Tsugaru.

---

Shichizayama has been worshipped as a sacred place for Shugendo since the Heian period

mountain range, with its seven peaks, rises along the banks where the Yoneshiro River meanders significantlyNanakurayama. It is said that since the Heian period, many Shugendo practitioners (mountain ascetics) have trained in the mountains as a sacred mountain of Shugendo.

consisting of seven peaks:mountain range(159.1m),Okura(163.6m),Sanbonsugikura(153.7m),Shibakura(173.1m),Minokura(192.4m),Eboshikura(229.6m), andGongenkura(187.4m/main peak). Designated as one of "Japan's 100 Low Mountains" (Yama-kei Publishers), it is a popular mountain for light hiking, with its Akita cedar forests, rocky areas, and ancient shrines. Furthermore, the view of the meandering Yoneshiro River and Nanazayama from the opposite bank is a rare and spectacular sight, a harmonious blend of river flow and mountain scenery.

---

In the mountains, there is a lion's head said to have been carved by Jikaku Daishi. There is also a legend that Kobo Daishi visited the place

Many legends remain about Mount Nanaza, which has been a sacred mountain since ancient times. Among them, at the foot of the mountain, roughly halfway between Gongenza and Eboshiza, there is a rock cave called "Gongen-sama," and the lion's head carved into the rock inside is said to be the guardian deity of Mount Nanaza, created by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi,the third head priest of the Tendai sect794-864),

The Edo period travel writer Sugae Masumi also visited Shichizayama in 1802 and drew pictures of the "Gongen-sama (Gongen of the Rocks)" and the "Lion's Head." He also left behind a picture of the view of Shichizayama from the opposite bank

, a massive rocky cave with countless beehive-like holes where ascetic monks are said to have secluded themselvesthe Hokke Cave, and there is also a legend that Kobo Daishi visited Nanaza Mountain.

---

During the Edo period, the Akita cedar forest was strictly protected as a sacred area of ​​the domain

During the Edo period, Mount Nanazayama was covered with giant Akita cedar trees, and the Kubota domaina directly managed mountain. The Akita cedar was sold in large quantities all the way to Edo, and the Kubota domain prospered greatly. However, during the numerous great fires in Edo, the cedar trees were cut down in large numbers, and the forests of northern Akita were devastated. The domain made efforts to reforest the area, but the deterioration continued. It is said that Mount Nanazayama was the only place that was left untouched, and miraculously, natural Akita cedar trees remain there to this day.

There are several trailheads to Mt. Nanaza, but the most recommended is theFutatsuiis close toTenjinand has a parking lot and restrooms. From this trailhead, you can easily reach Gongen-sama and Hokke-no-Iwaya, andMinoza Observatory, the round trip takes about two hours. It is an easy course even for first-timers. Before you start hiking, be sure to stop by the Futatsui roadside station to check the trail conditions and weather.

Roadside Station "Futatsui" <Information>

• Facility name: Roadside station "Futatsui"
• Address: 51 Kotsunagiizumi, Futatsui-cho, Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-74-5118
• Official URL:https://michinoeki-futatsui.jp/
• access:
  • Public transportation: Get off at Futatsui Station on the JR Ou Main Line, take the Futatsui Community Bus for about 9 minutes, then take the Futatsui Roadside Station bus stop (community buses do not operate on Sundays and holidays), or take a taxi for about 5 minutes
  • By car: Approximately 10 minutes from Futatsui Shirakami IC on the Akita Expressway

Google Map

---

Shichiza Shrine, where Abe no Hirafu prayed for victory in battle and is also known as the shrine to the god of learning

At the foot of Mt. Shichiza, on the banks of the Yoneshiro River, lie two ancient shrines: Shichiza Shrine and Ishosan Shrine. Shichiza Shrine is located on the opposite bank of the Yoneshiro River, overlooking the seven peaks of Mt. Shichiza. It is said to have been built in 658 by Abe no Hirafu to pray for victory when he visited Futatsui on his way to conquer the Emishi. Shichiza Shrine has long been revered and is at the center of Shichiza faith. Several deities are enshrined here, including Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, known as gods of nation building. One of these, Sugawara no Michizane, is known as the god of learning, and is visited by many people during exam season

Shichiza Shrine＜Information＞

• Facility name: Shichiza Shrine
• Address: 67 Tenshindokami, Kotsunagi, Futatsui-cho, Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-73-5075 (Futatsui Town Tourism Association)
• Official URL:Futatsui Town Tourism Association – Nanaza Shrine
• access:
  • Public transportation: Get off at Futatsui Station on the JR Ou Main Line, take the Futatsui Community Bus for about 9 minutes, get off at the Futatsui Roadside Station bus stop and walk for about 25 minutes (the community bus does not run on Sundays and holidays), or take a taxi for about 10 minutes
  • By car: Approximately 15 minutes from Futatsui Shirakami IC on the Akita Expressway

Google Map

---

A 600-year-old ginkgo tree that is said to give breast milk to those who worship at it. Ginkgo Mountain Shrine, where Abe no Hirafu prayed for victory in battle

Ichosan Shrineis a shrine located at the foot of Mt. Nanaza, along the Yoneshiro River. Like Nanaza Shrine, it is said to have been built by Abe no Hirafu to pray for victory in battle, and it is a shrine with a 1200-year history. Within the shrine grounds are three ancient ginkgo trees (estimated to be 600 years old) that are said to have been planted when the shrine was founded. The tree closest to the entrance is called the "Milk Pillar Ginkgo (or Female Ginkgo)," and it was believed that mothers with poor milk production would be able to produce milk if they prayed to it. It is said that the wife of Lord Satake also prayed there and was able to produce milk, after which she was granted permission to use the Satake family crest.

"Milk Column GinkgoA little further back from theRenri Ginkgo," where two ginkgo trees are joined by a horizontal branch near their bases. Renri refers to the phenomenon of two tree branches becoming entangled, and because of its appearance, it's also called the "Couple Ginkgo." The "Married Couple Ginkgo" has long been revered as a symbol of marital harmony.

Ginkgo Mountain Shrine <Information>

• Facility name: Ginkgo Mountain Shrine
• Address: 146, Nibunabo-naka, Futatsui-cho, Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-73-5075 (Futatsui Town Tourism Association)
• Official URL:Futatsui Town Tourism Association – Ginkgo Mountain Shrine
• access:
  • Public transportation: Get off at Futatsui Station on the JR Ou Main Line, take the Futatsui Community Bus Tashiro Line for approximately 10 minutes, then get off at Nakadai bus stop for approximately 10 minutes (community buses do not operate on Sundays and public holidays), or take a taxi for approximately 10 minutes
  • By car: Approximately 15 minutes from Futatsui Shirakami IC on the Akita Expressway

Google Map

---

Hachirotaro, a character from "The Legend of the Three Lakes," causes a commotion on Mount Shichiza

In the middle of the Yoneshiro River, which flows around Mount Nanaza, lies a large rock. This is no ordinary rock; it is a stone thrown by Hachirotaro. Hachirotaro is a figure who appears in the "Three Lakes Legend," a folk tale passed down in the northern part of Akita Prefecture. It is said that he was driven out of Lake Towada and, out of necessity, created Lake Hachirogata and lived in Oga.

Hachirotaro, the lord of Lake Towada, lost a contest of strength to a monk and traveled west down the Yoneshiro River. Finding the area around Shichizayama Mountains to be a good fit, he dammed the river to create a lake and began living there. However, one of the eight gods (there were eight at the time) became enraged and summoned Hachirotaro to the top of the mountain, where he proposed another contest of strength

The rock that Hachirotaro threw only reached halfway up the Yoneshiro River, but the rock that the god threw crossed the river. Taro admitted defeat and went down the Yoneshiro River, creating Lagoon Hachirogata. The lake around Mt. Shichizayama that Taro had dammed up was created when a hole was made in the bank by a mouse at the command of the god, but the water was so powerful that it separated one of the eight lakes. As a result, Mt. Hachizayama became Mt. Shichizayama, and the separated lake is said to have become Mt. Nanaori (161m above sea level), located to the left of Mt. Shichizayama

---

A scenic spot on Mount Shichiza, "Kimimachizaka" was named by Emperor Meiji and has become a sacred place for lovers

KimimachizakaPark(Kimimachizaka Prefectural Natural Park) is a natural park developed on the opposite bank of Mt. Nanaza. This area is a river terrace of the Yoneshiro River, and the old Uetsu Highway, which was walked by Abe no Hirafu and Sugae Masumi, was not built along the river but on a steep, undulating route known as Umajōzaka or Chikushōzaka. This steep highway was finally improved to be easier to walk on in 1881 (Meiji 14) in preparation for Emperor Meiji's tour of the Tohoku region.

The Emperor's tour proceeded smoothly with breaks along the way, and during one of these breaks, the Empress, who was in Tokyo, delivered a letter expressing her concern for the Emperor. The Emperor was deeply moved after reading the letter, and combined with the magnificent scenery he saw along the way,Kimimachizakahe named

Later, this area was developed as "Kimimachi-zaka Park," and became a sacred place for lovers following the story of a "love letter" from the Empress to the Emperor. There are many fun features, such as a heart-shaped postmark on letters dropped from the "Love Letter Postbox," the "Kimimachi Bell" which is said to keep lovers together forever when rung, and heart-shaped votive tablets at the Love Letter Shrine. It is a natural park that is also attractive for its beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.

Kimimachizaka Prefectural Natural Park <Information>

• Facility name: Kimimachizaka Prefectural Natural Park
• Address: 51 Kotsunagiizumi, Futatsui-cho, Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0185-73-5075
• Official URL:Futatsui Town Tourism Association – Kimimachizaka Prefectural Natural Park
• access:
  • Public transportation: Get off at Futatsui Station on the JR Ou Main Line, take the Futatsui Community Bus for about 9 minutes, then go to the Futatsui Roadside Station bus stop (community buses do not operate on Sundays and holidays), then walk for about 5 minutes, or take a taxi for about 5 minutes
  • By car: Approximately 10 minutes from Futatsui Shirakami IC on the Akita Expressway, or approximately 15 minutes from Odate Noshiro Airport IC on the Akita Expressway

Google Map

---