Mogamikyo Furusato Village
- 最上峡
- Yamagata
Travelling through Yamagata Prefecture, the Mogami River weaves its way into the sea from the edge of Fukushima Prefecture. Midstream, this river flows for 16km around the Prefectural Nature Park in front of Dewa Hills, an area which extends from the foot of Furuguchi (Tozawa Village), to Shonai Town (Kiyokawa). This is an extremely scenic area popularly known for its downstream boat route. The perfectly V-shaped valley allows visitors to enjoy a number of waterfalls from Mt. Kuromori and Nabenagashi Forest, as well as the beautiful colors of the cherry blossoms during spring and the lush greenery of the following months. The famous Japanese poet, Basho Matsuo, is well-known for saying “Quickly head to Mogami River for the May rains”, after descending down this area by boat at the end of the Japanese rainy season. Even the main character in the novel, “Oshin”, displays his nostalgia for Sakata after his service.