Shizukuishi Town (雫石町), Iwate County, Iwate is located west of Morioka City.  People lived in this area since the glacial epoch (the ice age), judging from the discovered flint implements.  In the Middle Age called "Namboku-cho-jidai" (南北朝時代; the Period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, 1336-1392), the Shiwa clan (斯波氏) and Tozawa clan (戸沢氏) competed for dominance here.  The Gosho Area (御所地区) with Lake Gosho (御所湖)* was named after the mansion of Akinobu Kitabatake (北畠 顕信, ?-1380?) of the Southern Dynasty.  (*Lake Gosho belongs to Morioka City.)  During the Boshin War (戊辰戦争, 1868-1869) there was a battle called the Battle of Hashibaguchi (橋場口の戦い) in which the Nambu clan (南部藩) fiercely fought with the Akita clan (秋田藩).  In 1889 (22nd year of Meiji) Shizukuishi Village (雫石村) was born as a village of South Iwate County (南岩手郡), and in 1940 (15th year of Showa) Shizukuishi Town (雫石町) was born.  The current population is 18,766 (October 1, 2007).  It has an area of 609.01sq km.
  This town with huge rice field, is surrounded by mountains.  Koiwai Farm (小岩井農場) in the east side of the town where you can see the panoramic view of the whole town, is the largest private integrated farm of Japan.  Shizukuishi has 12 onsen or hot springs with different characteristics.
  Probably winter is the best season for tourists to visit Shizukuishi because it also has three well-established snow parks.  It was between February 4 and February 14, 1993 when the Shizukuishi Snowpark (雫石スキー場) hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Morioka-Shizukuishi 1993.  It was the first Asian FIS alpine championships.  After skiing and snowboarding in Shizukuishi, why don't you go to a hot spring?

IMAGE	IMAGE NO.	DATA
Lake Gosho		The Gosho Area (御所地区) with Lake Gosho (御所湖) was named after the palace (御所) called "Shizukuishi-gosho" (滴石御所) of The high-ranked aristocrat Akinobu Kitabatake (北畠 顕信, ?-1380?) of the Southern Dynasty.  This lake was an artificial lake made by damming up the Shizukuishi River (雫石川).  The dam construction was done between 1967 and 1981.  You can enjoy windsurfing, boat sailing, fishing, etc.  Tsunagi Spa Resort (繋温泉), Morioka, abuts on the lake.     In fact, this dam and artificial lake is in the western edge of Morioka City (盛岡市): The exact location is The left [south] bank: Yamane, Tsunagi, Morioka City(左岸: 盛岡市繋字山根); The right [north] bank: Shimosaruta, Tsunagi, Morioka City (右岸: 盛岡市繋字下猿田).  However, I purposely include this dam/lake in this Shizukuishi page considering its history and the geography.
	mrk2007-029	(Tuesday 16 October) Kazuma-anazekito-shuko (鹿妻穴堰頭首工) in parallel with the Shizukuishi River.  It was constructed about 400 years ago in the early Edo Period in the early seventeenth century and it has irrigated about 400 ha of rice field.
	mrk2007-031	(Tuesday 16 October) Kazuma-anazekito-shuko (鹿妻穴堰頭首工) in parallel with the Shizukuishi River
	mrk2007-042	(Tuesday 16 October) Lake Gosho
	mrk2007-043	(Tuesday 16 October) Lake Gosho
Kazuma-jinjya		Kazuma-jinjya Shrine (鹿妻神社) abut on Kazuma-anazekito-shuko (鹿妻穴堰頭首工) inKazuma, Morioka City (盛岡市鹿妻).  The exact foundation date of the shrine is unknown but it is deeply connected to the construction of the Kazuma-anazekito in the early seventeenth century when the main stream of the Nambu clan moved from Sannohe (三戸) in Northern Iwate to Morioka.   It was in 1599 (4th year of Keicho [慶長] when Nobunao Nambu (南部 信直) sent here a gold miner named Jinroku Kamatsuda (鎌津田 甚六) to reclaim this marshy land.  1670 (1th year of Kambun [寛文]) when a man named Jinshichi (甚七) was anointed as the first "seki-mori" (堰守; flood gate guard).  Since then, this sluice has irrigated about 400 ha of rice field.
	mrk2007-034	(Tuesday 16 October) Stone Inscription of Kazuma-jinjya Shrine (鹿妻神社)
	mrk2007-036	(Tuesday 16 October) Kazuma-jinjya Shrine
	mrk2007-037	(Tuesday 16 October) "Hai-den" (拝殿; Worshippers' Hall) of Kazuma-jinjya Shrine
	mrk2007-039	(Tuesday 16 October) Kazuma-jinjya Shrine
	mrk2007-040	(Tuesday 16 October) Kazuma-jinjya Shrine
	mrk2007-041	(Tuesday 16 October) Kazuma-jinjya Shrine
Gembu-ganpeki		Gembu-gampeki (玄武岸壁; lit. "Basalt Wall"), viewed from Gembu-onsen "Lodge Tachibana" (玄武温泉 ロッヂ たちばな) 3-5 Nagayama-Arine, Shizukuishi Town (雫石町 長山有根3-5).
	szk2007-005	(Tuesday 16 October) Gembu-gampeki (玄武岸壁), viewed from Gembu-onsen "Lodge Tachibana."  This is the landscape I enjoy whenever I take an open-air bath here.  Highly recommended, especially in winter.
Gembu-ohashi Bridge		Gembu-ohashi Bridge (玄武大橋) over the Kakkonda River (葛根田川) along the short prefectural road R212.  This is the border where Nagayama-kaido Road (長山街道) changes into Torigoe-kaido Road (鳥越街道).
	szk2007-006	(Tuesday 23 October) Gembu-ohashi Bridge (玄武大橋) over the Kakkonda River (葛根田川) along the short prefectural road R212.  This is the border where Nagayama-kaido Road (長山街道) changes into Torigoe-kaido Road (鳥越街道).
	szk2007-007	(Tuesday 23 October) A panoramic view from Gembu-ohashi Bridge
	szk2007-008	(Tuesday 23 October) A panoramic view from Gembu-ohashi Bridge
	szk2007-010	(Tuesday 23 October) A panoramic view from Gembu-ohashi Bridge
	szk2007-011	(Tuesday 23 October) A panoramic view from Gembu-ohashi Bridge
	szk2007-012	(Tuesday 23 October) A panoramic view from Gembu-ohashi Bridge
Gembu-do Cave		Gembu-do Cave (玄武洞; lit. "the Cave of Basalt [whinstone]"), Shizukuishi, known as "Kakkonda-no-O-iwaya" (葛根田の大岩屋; the Big Cave of Kakkonda).  It was more scenic before 1999 when the volcanic activity of Mt. Iwate heavily damaged the cave, where no tourists cannot go over the fence for security now.
	szk2007-016	(Tuesday 23 October) Wood Signpost of Gembu-do Cave by the Kakkonda River along R212
	szk2007-017	(Tuesday 23 October) Gembu-do Cave by the Kakkonda River along R212
	szk2007-018	(Tuesday 23 October) Gembu-do Cave by the Kakkonda River along R212
	szk2007-019	(Tuesday 23 October) Gembu-do Cave by the Kakkonda River along R212
	szk2007-020	(Tuesday 23 October) Near Gembu-do Cave by the Kakkonda River along R212
Kakkonda Gorge		"Kakkonda-keikoku" (葛根田渓谷; Kakkonda Gorge) along the short prefectural road R212
	szk2007-022	(Tuesday 23 October) Kakkonda-keikoku (Kakkonda Gorge) along the short prefectural road R212
	szk2007-023	(Tuesday 23 October) Kakkonda-keikoku (Kakkonda Gorge) along the short prefectural road R212
	szk2007-024	(Tuesday 23 October) Kakkonda-keikoku (Kakkonda Gorge) along the short prefectural road R212
	szk2007-025	(Tuesday 23 October) Kakkonda-keikoku (Kakkonda Gorge) along the short prefectural road R212
	szk2007-026	(Tuesday 23 October) Kakkonda-keikoku (Kakkonda Gorge) along the short prefectural road R212
Toriogoe Waterfall		"Torigoe-no-Taki" (鳥越の滝, 30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall is located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River (葛根田川)
	szk2007-027	(Tuesday 23 October) Signpost of Torigoe-no-Taki" (鳥越の滝, 30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-028	(Tuesday 23 October) Torigoe-no-Taki" (鳥越の滝, 30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-029	(Tuesday 23 October) Near "Torigoe-no-Taki" or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-031	(Tuesday 23 October) Near "Torigoe-no-Taki" or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-032	(Tuesday 23 October) Near "Torigoe-no-Taki" or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-033	(Tuesday 23 October) Near "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall is located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-034	(Tuesday 23 October) Near "Torigoe-no-Taki" or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-035	(Tuesday 23 October) Near "Torigoe-no-Taki" or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-036	(Tuesday 23 October) Near "Torigoe-no-Taki" or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-037	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-042	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-043	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-044	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-045	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-046	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-047	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-048	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-049	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-051	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-052	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-053	(Tuesday 23 October) "Torigoe-no-Taki" (30 m high) or Torigoe Waterfall located in the upper stream of the Kakkonda River
Taki-no-Ue Onsen		"Taki-no-Ue Onsen" (滝ノ上温泉) or Taki-no-Ue Spa Resort is located near Torigoe Waterfall in the upper stream of Kakkonda River (葛根田川) along R212.
	szk2007-054	(Tuesday 23 October) "Ruikan-so" (滝観荘), "Taki-no-Ue Onsen" (Taki-no-Ue Spa Resort).  You can enjoy a panoramic view bathing in onsen!  Keep it in mind that this closes between November and April because of snow.
	szk2007-055	(Tuesday 23 October) The Kakkonda River viewed from Ruikan-so," "Taki-no-Ue Onsen" (Taki-no-Ue Spa Resort)
	szk2007-057	(Tuesday 23 October) The Kakkonda River viewed from Ruikan-so," "Taki-no-Ue Onsen" (Taki-no-Ue Spa Resort)
Kakkonda Powerplant		"Kakkonda Chinetsu-Hatsuden-sho" (葛根田地熱発電所; Kakkonda Geothermal Powerplant) located at the end of R212 along the Kakkonda River or close to the foot of Mt. Iwate (2039 m), a famous volcano.  It was built in 1978 (53rd year of Showa) and currently has two reactors.  This is one of the largest geothermal powerplants of Japan, producing c. 80,000 kilowatt.
	szk2007-059	(Tuesday 23 October) "Kakkonda Chinetsu-Hatsuden-sho" (Kakkonda Geothermal Powerplant) located at the end of R212 along the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-060	(Tuesday 23 October) "Kakkonda Chinetsu-Hatsuden-sho" (Kakkonda Geothermal Powerplant) located at the end of R212 along the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-061	(Tuesday 23 October) "Kakkonda Chinetsu-Hatsuden-sho" (Kakkonda Geothermal Powerplant) located at the end of R212 along the Kakkonda River
	szk2007-062	(Tuesday 23 October) "Kakkonda Chinetsu-Hatsuden-sho" (Kakkonda Geothermal Powerplant) located at the end of R212 along the Kakkonda River.  You can see the road sign of "Kendo-shuten" (県道終点; the end of the prefectural road [R212])
	szk2007-064	(Tuesday 23 October) "Kakkonda Chinetsu-Hatsuden-sho" (Kakkonda Geothermal Powerplant) located at the end of R212 along the Kakkonda River

        

Copyright (c) 2007 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.