Dakigaeri Gorge Walking Map (Access, Transportation, and Parking)

Now the Dakigaeri Foliage Festival （抱返り紅葉祭） is happening at the Dakigaeri Gorge through October 6th, 2011. Here is a walking map of the area!

Click to see the bigger image.

This map can be obtained at

 Tazawako Tourist Information Center FOLAKE (at JR Tazawako Station).

Access and Parking:

You can access to the area from late April to November  (it may vary depending on the weather conditions of that year). October is the month when it welcomes the most largest number of people.

The area can be accessed by your vehicle. It takes about 15 minutes from JR Tazawako Station and JR Kakundoate Station, and 5 minutes from JR Jindai Station. If taking a taxi, it is recommended to take one from JR Tazawako Station or Kakunodate Station, since the taxi services may not be available from Jindai at all times.

To Call a taxi, call Dakigaeri Kanko Taxi (0187-44-3118), Tazawako Kanko Taxi (0187-43-1331), Obonai Kanko Hire (0187-1221), and Kakunodate Kanko Taxi (0187-54-1144).

Park your car in the designated parking area in front of the Dakigaeri Shrine. Parking area is free except for the Dakigaeri Foliage Festival weeks (300 Yen for small cars / 1,000 Yen for 1,000Yen).

During the festival, there is a free shuttle bus service between JR Kakunodate Station and Dakigeri. From Kakunodate Station, the shuttle leaves at 10:15, 12:15, 13:30, and 16:15; From Dakigaeri, it leaves at 11:08, 13:08, 15:08, and 17:08.

Walk Around Sabo Culture Park on Tazawako Plateau

Sabo Culture Park （サボーカルチャーパーク）is a popular walking area in Mizusawa Onsen-kyo. The two man-made waterfalls are a part of a dam system built to prevent the landslide disaster in the surrounding region. The sound of water in the park is soothing especially in the hottest season of the year.

A gazebo fro which you can see Lake Tazawa

Be careful when you cross the streams.

The park has a large grass area overlooking the Kosendatsu River （小先達川） that flows from the forests of Mt. Akita Komagatake. From there you can see the splendid mountain range as well as Lake Tazawa – both of which are important landmarks of Akita Prefecture. Cherry blossoms are along on the road, which makes it a popular and quiet hanabi (viewing) spot in early May.

 

The waterfalls are located in the lower side of the park. Walkways, which are designed so that visitors could observe some local fish like Japanese Chars and Yamame Trouts, measures about 260 meters in total length. The locals stop by even at night to see the fireflies there.

The walkway is about 260 meters long.

Collaboration of Indian and French Rocks and Japanese Landscape!

The park has been constructed in 1995 as a part of the dam project conducted by the municipal government -- formerly known as Tazawako-machi -- and the Ministry of Environment.

The sculptures titled “Stitching the Planet” was constructed in corporation with an Indian company. The main materials were imported from overseas -- From India are New Imperial Red Granite and Bengal Black Granite, and from France are Clarte Rose Granit and Blue Granit. The reliefs and monuments portray the curvy landscape of the surrounding natural environment.

Two man-made waterfalls seen from the lowest side of the park.

 

The area is easy to access: It is on the road to tourist destinations such as Akita Komagatake, Nyuto Onsenkyo, Mizusawa Onsenkyo, and Tazawako Kogen Onsenkyo. Take a bus bound for Nyuto and Akita Komagatake and get off at "Kosendatsu Dam Koen Mae"　（小先達公園前） .

Tazawako 2-Day March 2010

The 12th Annual Tazawako 2-Day March is coming up next month, October 2-3rd. It is an event in which over 300 participants will gather and walk in Tazawako and the neighboring areas.

The site is relocated now -- to Tazawako Rest House

The courses vary from 5km to 40 km and mainly take around Lake Tazawa. The participation fee is 2,000 yen regardless of which and how many courses you enroll in. For instance, you can walk 5km each day— Day 1 to Gozanoishi Shrine, the one of the most beautiful viewpoint and Day 2 to the Ishigami area to walk through the rice paddies, both starting from Tazawako Rest House in Shirahama Area.

Tazawako Area is a popular destination for a drive. Seeing the twinkles in water and passing through the green leaves is surely refreshing from the windows, but there is so much more beauties to be found if you walk.

That is why Tazawako 2-Day March has been an event to which walkers from all over Japan regularly participate. It is held in beginning of October, when the Akita Komagatake in Tazawako Area is turning into red and oranges. It is not a marathon competition, so you can take your time and have snapshots while enjoying conversations with other participants.

An elementary students group came from Yamagata Prefecture.

Along the Obonai River

Through the rows of Japanese Cedars.

EVENT: The 12th Annual TAZAWAKO 2-DAY MARCH

DATE: October 2nd-3rd, 2010. (Sat./Sun.)
FEE: 2,000 yen. (Flat rate regardless of courses)

APPLICATION DEADLINES: See below (*)

COURSES/SCHEDULES:

40 KM—Tazawako Art Village (7:30)--Kakundoate Bukeyashiki (The Samurai Residences)--the Nishiki Area;Statue of Tatsuko--the Gozanoishi Shrine--Tazawako Rest House

*Application is accepted from 6:00-6:45 at Tazawako Rest House.

*A free shuttle bus (one way) will take you to the Tazawako Art Village. Your belongings will be handed back to you at the goal. No shuttle bus available.

22 KM— Tazawako Rest House (9:00)--Statue of Tatsuko--the Gozanoishi Shrine--
Tazawako Rest House

*Application is accepted from 8:00-9:30 at Tazawako Rest House.

12 KM—Statue of Tatsuko(10:00)--the Gozanoishi Shrine-- Tazawako Rest House

*Applications are accepted from 8:00-10:00 at Tazawako Rest House

5 KM—The Gozanoishi Shrine(10:05)--Tazawako Rest House

*Applications are accepted from 8:00- 10:00

30 KM—Arupa Komakusa (7:30)--the Obonai River--Semboku City Gorvernment Tazawako Office-- Tazawako Rest House

20 KM—Arupa Komakusa (8:30)--Obonai Area-- Tazawako Rest House

10 KM—Arupa Komakusa (9:30)>Tazawako Rest House

*Applications are accepted from 7:00 at Arupa Komakusa.

*A free shuttle bus (one way) is available from Tazawako Rest House to Arupa Komakusa at 7:00,7:40,8:20,9:00, 9:40). From Tazawako Rest House to Arupa Komakusa, please take a local bus line (500 yen). Your belongings will be handed back to you at the goal.

5 KM—Tazawako Rest House (9:30)--Ishigami Area--Tazawako Rest House.

*Applications are accepted from 8:30-10:00 at Tazawako Rest House.

LUNCH:

If you want a bento lunch box (600 yen), you need to reserve it by September 24th.

Please call us or send an e-mail.

NEED A HOTEL?

We can accomodate. Please inquire.

MORE INFO:

Tazawako Tourism Association General Office

 (Tel. 0187-58-0063)

Divine! The Cedar Rows at Kimpo Shrine.

Rows of Sugi, or Japanese cedars, at Kimpo Shrine are designated as the Natural Monument of Akita Prefecture. The rows connect from the Sanmon Gate, where the two Buddhist guardian statues stand, and all the way up to the shrine building.

 

"Cedar Rows of Kimpo Shrine"

These trees, 40 of them on the right and 41 on your left, are said to be about 350- 600 years old. According to the locals, many gigantic trees in the surrounding area were cut down during the wartime for the ship-building—except for these cedar trees!

That is why many hidden pockets of forests with ancient trees can be found in this region. These cedar rows are one of the fine examples.

Walking on the stone-paved staircase covered with moss, you would feel like you are being protected by the trees. So divine!

A Hidden Short Trail to Mirror Stone and Bridge of Wishes

Kagami Ishi  （鏡石）is one of the hidden spots you might enjoy on your trip to the Gozanoishi Shrine.

Hardly visited nor known by locals, Kagami Ishi is located about 300 meters up on a trail through the woods, which starts from the west of Gozanoishi Jinja. The trail - more like a short walk - is only 15 to 20 minutes out and back. It is rather steep in some parts but the whispering leaves and cozy wind are very refreshing.

You will be crossing a bridge called Negai-bashi, Bridge of Wishes, where you will see inscribed wishes of the visiters. At the top of the trail, you will find a rock called Kagami-ishi, the Mirror Rock, which is said to have been what Tatsuko has come to mirror herself in to tidy herself up.

A few minutes in the trail, Negaibashi (A Bridge of Wishes) welcomes you.

Remember to make a wish while crossing!

Wishes engraved: I wish my tummy will get better!

"May my family live in happiness"

A few more minutes till the end of the trail.

The end is a small viewpoint to take a glimpse of Kagami-ishi.

The Kagami Ishi.

Lake Tazawa seen from the view point.

First ''Hello'' to the world!

Hello, the world! And welcome to English blogs of Tazawako Tourism Association. We just launched our inbound team here and hope to see many foreign travelers in Tazawako very soon.

Tommorrow we are going to have an event at the lake called ''2-Day March''. People from all over Japan are participating for this event, along with many native Tazawakoians! This year we have a large group of local elementary school students as well. This event is held once a year, and becoming more and more popular in recent years.

There is going to be plenty of food and drinks (some alcoholic drinks served tonight at the welcoming party)~~It is an open event and the courses vary from 5 km to 40 km. The registration is open till the last minute so just come and join us!