Yurihonjō, Akita
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| Image:Http://ja.wikipedia.org/upload/f/f3/地図-秋田県由利本荘市-2006.png Yurihonjo City's location in Akita prefecture, Japan. | |
| Location | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tohoku |
| Prefecture | Akita prefecture |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 1,209.04 km² |
| Population (as of 2006) | |
| Total | 89,961 |
| Density | 75.76/km² |
| Location | |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Iris |
| Yurihonjo City Hall | |
| Mayor | Hiroshi Yanagida |
| Address | 〒015-8501 Yurihonjo-shi, Ozaki17 |
| Phone number | 0184-24-3321 |
| Official website: [1] | |
Yurihonjō ((由利本荘市; Yurihonjō-shi) is a city located in Akita, Japan.
The city was founded on March 222005 from the merger of the former city of Honjō and the former towns of Chōkai, Higashiyuri, Iwaki, Nishime, Ōuchi, Yashima and Yuri.
As of July 2006, the city had an official population of 89,961 and a density of 75.76 persons per km². The total area is 1209.04 km².
Contents |
[edit] Sightseeing Spots
Amasagi Village(天鷺村) - Amasagi Village is a complete tourist center in the 'Iwaki' area of north Yurihonjō. It is centered around an historical facility, and it contains the samurai residence of the Unuma family (transferred from its original site), and a museum with collections of furniture and samurai armour.
Akata Giant Buddha Statue（赤田大仏） - a large standing Buddha statue.
Honjō Park（本荘公園） - each year a large cherry blossom festival (April) and Azalea festival (May) take place here.
Yashio Park （八塩いこいの森） - this park is especially famous for its yellow cherry blossom trees and it holds a firework display in May during full bloom.
[edit] Honjō Marina & Koyoshi River 本荘マリーナ・子吉川
Rowing - there are 500 metre & 1000 metre rowing courses at the mouth of the Koyoshi River. A major public regatta takes place here each year in September. Three high schools in Yurihonjō have their own rowing clubs with a history of success in national rowing championships.
Marina/Sailing - Honjō has a wide beach with an adjacent yachting harbour.
[edit] Events
Fireworks - each area of Yurihonjō has its own fireworks festival in the summer each year. The most popular takes place on the beach in Michikawa.
Hadaka Festival（裸参り） - this religious event take splace in January in which a group of men and boys walk through the snow to Shinzan Shrine.
[edit] Mount Chōkai 鳥海山
- Mount Chōkai is an inactive volcano which stands alone on the border between Akita Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture.
- Mount Chōkai is 2236 metres high and is the second highest mountain in the Tohoku area. It is popular with skiers, hikers and climbers.
- It has its own unique Alpine plants and vegetation such as Chōkai Thistle （チョウカイアザミ） or Chōkai Fusuma （チョウカイフスマ）.
- there are bungalows and camping sites and other leisure facilities on the lower slopes of Mount Chōkai.
[edit] Local Crafts/Arts/Food
Rice Wine Sake - there are 4 independent rice wine breweries in Yurihonjō: Akita Homare; Yuri Masamune; Tenju; and Dewanofuji.
Honjō Udon（本荘うどん） - dried noodles which are eaten hot or cold. The texture of Honjō Udon is tough.
Gotenmari ball （ごてんまり） - these elaborate decorative balls are made from silk thread and are a popular souvenir of Yurihonjō.
Honjō Lacquer （本荘塗り） - a number of craftsmen in Yurihonjō produce traditional lacquerware.
Honjo Oiwake （本荘追分） - this is a traditional folk song, known as min'yo, which is reputed to be one of the most difficult for singers to master. A national 'Honjō Oiwake' competition is held in Yurihonjō every year over 2 days in September.
Mountain Vegetables （山菜） - the foothills of Mount Chōkai produce many varieties of wild mountain vegetables and in spring and autumn it is common to see cars parked on the side of the road as people stop to pick them. Popular mountain vegetables are 'Yamaudo' (山ウド) 'bamboo shoots' （笹タケノコ） and 'warabi' （ワラビ）.
[edit] Hot Springs & Spas 温泉
- there are comparatively many hot springs - known as onsen in Japanese - in Yurihonjō, including some large scale ones which also offer accommodation such as the Poporoko Hot Spring （ぽぽろっこ）.
- The Taki Onsen （滝温泉） in the Ōuchi area is reputed to cure minor pains and many sufferers stay there long-term.
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| Cities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Akita (capital) | Daisen | Katagami | Kazuno | Kitaakita | Nikaho | Noshiro | Oga | Odate | Senboku | Yokote | Yurihonjo | Yuzawa | |||
| Districts | |||
| Kazuno | Kitaakita | Minamiakita | Ogachi | Senboku | Yamamoto | |||
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