Jan 282013
 

Good afternoon from the Itoigawa Global Geopark! Sorry for the long absence, but I’ve been away at conferences too boring to share the details with you all. I’m back in the office now and eager to tell you all about an event happening at one of my personal favorite geosites: Oyashirazu!

Starting this February 2nd and runnning all weekends and holidays until March 31st, the Itoigawa Bus Company will be operating the ‘Oyashirazu Winter Romance Tour.’ This tour starts at the Jade Kingdom Center beside Itoigawa Station and includes a tour of the Fossa Magna Museum, a tour of Kaga-no-I Brewery (the oldest operating brewery in Niigata Prefecture), and culminates in a tour of the Oyashirazu Geosite and a special monkfish lunch.

Oyashirazu in Winter

Oyashirazu

Oyashirazu, historically known as tenka-no-ken or ‘the precipice without equal under the heavens,’ is where the Northern Japanese Alps fall into the Sea of Japan producing 10km of sheer cliffs. Up until the 19th century the Hokuriku Road which connects Eastern and Western Japan passed along the base of this cliff. This meant that travelers would have to brave waves and harsh terrain along the water’s edge, making the journey incredibly dangerous. For these travelers, caves and rock shelters formed by erosion provided the only shelter from the waves. These natural shelters are still visible today.

The sharp cliffs and jagged coastline form a stark contrast with the gently curving roads cut into the cliff’s face. It’s a beautiful sight to see all year round, but snowfall in winter transforms Oyashirazu into a stunning landscape that cannot be missed.

Monkfish at Oyashirazu Pier Park

Monkfish at Oyashirazu Pier Park

Monkfish, a species of anglerfish that lives its life on the seabed of deep coastal waters throughout the world, is one of Itoigawa’s prized specialties. Like its anglerfish cousins, the monkfish is a fairly grotesque sight to behold: squat, flat, and almost entirely massive maw filled with sharp, jagged teeth. However, don’t judge a fish by its scales! (Especially monkfish as they don’t have any!) The monkfish’s flesh is succulent and a favorite in stews or fried in batter. Even more prized is its liver, which locals call ‘ankimo’. Ankimo is often called ‘the foie gras of the sea.’ Soft, rich, and almost buttery, it is cooked along with the flesh in stews, or served lightly steamed and sliced as sashimi.

Monkfish is only available during the winter months as fishing is limited in order to maintain a sustainable population. If you like fish and happen to be in Itoigawa during the winter months, though, you cannot let yourself leave without trying Itoigawa Monkfish.

For more information, please click here.

-Ishikoro


Jan 172013
 

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the Hayakawa region of Itoigawa.

Named for the Hayakawa River which runs through it, this part of Itoigawa is primarily rural, characterized by small villages and rice fields wedged between the mountains. It includes two geosites: the Tsukimizu-no-Ike and Yakeyama geosites.

Aramachi as seen from Shimohayakawa Elementary school.

Aramachi as seen from Shimohayakawa Elementary school.

While Itoigawa is a single city, it is comprised of many smaller town- and village-like communities.  This picture shows part of ‘Aramachi,’ one of the ‘towns’  of the Hayakawa region. Separated from the rest of the city by mountains and rice fields, Aramachi is fairly self-sufficient with all you would expect in a town of comparable size including restaurants, a post office, a supermarket, and local shops. Of particular interest are sweets shops and a shop that specializes in wasabi grown in the area around Tsukimizu-no-Ike Pond.

Mt. Hokogatake in Winter

Mt. Hokogatake in Winter

The Kubiki Mountains as seen from Kamihayakawa Elementary School

The Kubiki Mountains as seen from Kamihayakawa Elementary School

Further upriver are more villages and even a few hot springs resorts.  The mountain scenery here is unforgettable and I highly recommend both the Yakeyama and Tsukimizu-no-Ike Geosites to anybody visiting the Itoigawa Global Geopark.

 

–Ishikoro


Jan 102013
 
Ubagawa Bridge in the Snow

Ubagawa Bridge in the Snow

Get it, guys? I-snowy-gawa? It’s alright if you don’t, I’ll wait.

 

 

Okay, I’m sorry. That was terrible. But it is snowing really heavily today!

Sakura (Japanese cherry trees)

Sakura (Japanese cherry trees)

Itoigawa is located in the part of Japan known as Yukiguni, or ‘snow country’. While the winter temperatures here never drop much below freezing (lows average at about 0-1°C), winds blowing from continental Asia pick up large amounts of moisture while crossing the Sea of Japan. This moisture-laden weather system then breaks up upon hitting the mountain ranges that run along the center of the Japanese islands, releasing heavy snowfalls across this area.

Statues of the Bodhisattva Jizo

Jizo Statues

It is not unusual for some areas of Itoigawa to see several meters of accumulation throughout the winter season. While this weather can make life in winter quite difficult (we’re all pretty sick of snow by March!), it’s another one of the wonders of nature that gives the Itoigawa Global Geopark its spectacular scenery.

Entrance to Amatsu Shrine

Entrance to Amatsu Shrine

Unfortunately. this heavy snowfall makes many of the geosites in Itoigawa inaccessible in the winter, but it also makes for beautiful landscapes that you do not want to miss!

–Ishikoro


 Posted by at 3:39 PM
Jan 072013
 

Hello everyone! Apologies in advance for the shortness of today’s entry, but we’re hard at work here in the Geopark Promotion Office improving the English website!

We recently redesigned the English website to make it a little easier to navigate, but even the best designed website is useless if it doesn’t provide any helpful information. With that in mind, we are working to improve the English language website by providing more information about our 24 geosites including photographs, maps, and up-to-date access information.

Keep visiting us to learn more about the exciting ways we are working to globalize here at the Itoigawa Global Geopark !

 –Ishikoro


Jan 042013
 

  It’s January 4th, our first day back in the office now after entering the Year of the Snake. I hope you all had a warm New Year’s celebration with friends and family.

  I spent mine visiting Itoigawa’s main shrine, Amatsu Shrine for hatsumoude.

Amatsu Shrine in Central Itoigawa

Amatsu Shrine in Central Itoigawa

  Hatsumoude translates literally to ‘first pilgrimage.’ It is the Japanese tradition of visiting a shrine or temple during the New Year’s celebration to pray for health and good fortune. Despite its small population, Itoigawa has many shrines and temples which people visit for their first pilgrimage of the New Year. Amatsu Shrine, located near Itoigawa Station and Itoigawa City Hall, is probably one of the most popular shrines in the Itoigawa area.

Visitors to Amatsu Shrine purchase protective charms and talismans

Visitors to Amatsu Shrine purchase protective charms and talismans

An important part of hatsumoude for many Japanese is the purchase of good luck charms and protective talismans. From small satchel-like charms to large goshinya or ‘god arrows’, these objects are said to protect the owner from ill fortune and bring good fortune and health.

Visitors buy snacks from kiosks at Amatsu Shrine

Visitors buy snacks from kiosks at Amatsu Shrine

For many an equally (if not more!) important part of the hatsumoude experience are these kiosks which sell various snack foods from takoyaki (octopus dumplings) to crepes. It’s certainly my favorite part!

However you celebrated your New Year’s, all of us here at the Itoigawa Global Geopark wish you the best of health and fortune in 2013 and look forward to seeing you soon!

 

-Ishikoro