This is the Iwata Tourism Association. Nice to meet you all!! Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a city in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture, located about halfway between Tokyo and Osaka. It is also known as a "sports town" and is also the home of professional sports such as the Jubilo Iwata of the J.League, the Shizuoka SSU Bonita of the Japan Women's Soccer Nadeshiko League, and the Shizuoka Blue Revs of Japan Rugby League One, where "sports Town planning" and "health promotion through sports" are promoted. ◆What is Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture? ◆ The population is about 160,000. There are interchanges of the Tomei Expressway and the Second Tomei Expressway in the city, and it is about 3 hours by car from Tokyo and about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Nagoya. The gateway on the Shinkansen is Hamamatsu Station or Kakegawa Station. Transfer to the Tokaido Line and go to three stations in Iwata City (Iwata Station, Toyotacho Station, Mikuriya Station) for 10~15 minutes. Since ancient times, it has developed as the center of "Toei Province (Land of Toomi)" with Toei Province branch temples and Toei Kokubu. More than 900 Kofun Tumulus from the Kofun period still exist, and it is a "town" where history is told. In the Edo period, it flourished as the "Mitsuke inn" of the 53rd order of the Tokaido Highway. In recent years, in addition to the textile industry, which is a local products industry, it has become an industrial city for metals, automobiles, musical instruments, etc., and is also one of the prefecture's leading agricultural outputs, Famous for greenhouse melons, tea, white onions, shrimp-shaped potatoes, Chinese vegetables, and Shirasu, a marine product. It is an area where urban and rural areas are developing in a balanced manner. ◆Introduction to sightseeing spots in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆ 【Mitsuke inn】 It is a Shukuba-machi town located almost in the center of the 53rd order of the Tokaido Road (the 28th Shukuba), and there are still several alleys that enter Yokomachi along the Along the road, and there are many shrines and temples scattered around, and you can feel the faces of that time and the atmosphere of the Shukuba. Other, the area is dotted with attractions such as the Former Mitsuke School, the oldest existing wooden Pseudo-Western style elementary school building in Japan, the Iwata Bunko (each national historic site), the Mitsuke Tenjin Naked Festival, the Mitsuke Tenjin Yanahiru Shrine, where the legend of Shippei Taro's spiritual experience remains, and the former Akamatsu Family Memorial Hall, which is a designated cultural property of the prefecture and city. In 2022, Former Mitsuke School and Iwata Bunko were certified as "Shizuoka Heritage" along with "Mitsuke Inn" and "Mitsuke Tenjin Yanahiru Shrine" as "the crystallization of Shizuoka people who are passionate about modern education". 【Ryuyo Marine Park】 It is a seaside park with a marine center with sports facilities and a multipurpose plaza. There are tennis courts, baseball fields, playground equipment, roller slides, auto camp grounds, etc. on the vast site, making it a Spot that you can enjoy with children. At the auto camp site, you can buy local products, and "Shiosai Ryuyo", which also has a restaurant, BBQ facilities, and bathing facilities, is adjacent and has been well received. The Ocean Center also offers experience menus such as standup paddleboarding. 【Nagisa Exchange Center, Fukuda Fishing Port Area】 "Nagisa Exchange Hall" is located in the Fukuda Fishing Port harbor overlooking the magnificent Enshu Nada. It is a food court where you can enjoy raw Shirasu rice bowls and kamaage Shirasu bowls while looking at the sea. Other, there is a "Sandbox for Everyone" where you can enjoy beach soccer and beach volleyball, and an "Event Plaza" where you can hold outdoor events. There is a fishing spot where you can enjoy fishing in front of you, and the Toyohama Coast just to the east is a surfing spot with good waves that hold a national surfing tournament. On the other hand, in addition to the Famous "Shirasu Fishing" at Fukuda Fishing Port, the recreational fishing boat industry is also thriving, and it is also a base for offshore fishing in Enshu Nada by fishing boats. 1~2 minutes from the fishing port, there are many "Shirasu Processing Plants", and customers come from far away to buy Shirasu. 【Shishigahana Park】 This park, which has the legend of the opening of the mountain by Kobo Daishi, has a promenade and Athletic Maintenance, and you can enjoy the nature of the four seasons, such as cherry blossoms and azaleas in Spring, forest bathing and bird watching in the New Green in early summer, and autumn leaves in autumn, making it ideal for hiking and walking. From the Observation decks, you can see Enshu Nada in the distance, and it is a First sunrise Spot on New Year's Day. 【Yamaha Stadium】 [Yamaha Motor Communication Plaza] It is the home stadium of Jubilo Iwata for soccer and Shizuoka Blue Revs for rugby. It is about a 15-minute walk from the north exit of JR Mikuriya Station. Visit many fans from Japan and abroad on match days. In addition, there is a corporate museum called "Communication Plaza" right next door to Yamaha Motor Headquarters, which is an attractive place for industrial tourism where you can experience Yamaha Motor's products and history. 【Ruins of Toe Kokubunji Temple】 Excavations began in 1951, and the following year it was declared a National Special Historic Site. Kokubunji Temple had a seven-storied pagoda, an auditorium, a middle gate, and a cloister centered on the Kondo. In addition, the ruins of the seven-storied pagoda and other major temples have been discovered, and they have been designated as National Special Historic Site in the 1952 (Showa 27). In the Maintenance Project for the 2022 (Reiwa 4) Degree, the Auditorium and the Wooden base platform of the monk's cell located on the north side of the Ruins of Toe Kokubunji Temple were Maintenance, and in the 5th year of Reiwa, the Wooden base platform of the Kondo Hall, the central building of the temple, was Maintenance. In the Kondo hall, the foundation stone that supports the pillars of the building and the stone staircase installed in front of the Front of Kindan are also planned to be restored. It is a valuable historical heritage that tells us that Iwata was the center of this area. ◆Specialty products of Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆ Iwata City's specialty products include shrimp-shaped taro, Iwata tea, Aroma melon, white onion, and Koro-kaki (persimmon), all of which directly feel the blessings of nature. Locally grown ingredients are known for their freshness and taste. Seafood such as Shirasu, natural Tiger puffer fish and grilled grilled eel are also popular, and Shirasu in particular is a gastronomical delicacies that swims in the fast currents of the nearby sea. These specialty products are also popular as souvenirs and thank-you gifts for Furusato Nozei. ◆Festivals and events in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆ 【Fufu Hachimangu Festival】 It is held every year on the first Saturday and Sunday of October in the Nakaizumi area. Elaborately decorated festival floats are towed around in each town. It is a festivals full of emotion with the sound of drums and flutes, and dashing shouts. 【Mitsuke Tenjin Naked Festival】 It is a major festival of Mitsuke Tenjin Yanahiru Shrine (Yanahimejinja) and is now designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset. It is held every year on the Saturday and Sunday just before the 10th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. The highlight of the festival is the time from 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday night, when the naked parade and the passing of the Mikoshi (portable shrine) are held, and from 1 a.m. the next day. Naked men parade through the area of the old Tokaidō and Mitsuki in four groups called ladders, and then head to the worship hall of Yanahiru Shrine. In the worship hall, the enthusiasm increases with each new group, and a fierce parade (demon dance) continues. At midnight, all the lights in the area are extinguished, and the climax is reached when the Mikoshi (portable shrine) crosses through the pitch black darkness. ◆ Disseminating the Information of Shizuoka Prefecture Iwata City ◆ In Iwata City, you can feel the history and culture that has been nurtured over a long period of time. In 2022, Iwata City's "Teratani Water" was registered as a World Irrigation Facility Heritage Site, adding another historical story that Iwata City is proud of. In 2023, it will return to first place in Japan in the ranking of cities and towns that come to mind as a "sports town", and its brand image as a "sports town" has become established. Even so, the charm and power that cannot be fully described in this posted are still alive in the history and culture of Iwata, the nature of the sea and mountains, industry, and people's lifestyles. Best regards will continue to send out Recommendations on COOL JAPAN VIDEOS!

Another photo from Kumagaya. This is a big map outside of Kumagaya Station's North Exit, depicting, from what I understand, Kumagaya and the surrounding area in 1936. It's a bit difficult to see, but if you zoom in you can see Kumagaya on the left side with Tokyo in the upper left behind it, and to the right of Kumagaya you can see Kami-Kumagaya, from there, if you look to the bottom-right you'll see Kumagaya City Hall and furthest to the right is Ishiwara. Underneath Ishiwara you can also see several schools (elementary, middle, high school) and a hospital. It's quite difficult to see in this photo, but the mountain at the far back right is Mt. Asama, and you can see Nagatoro as well. On top of that, there's the Arakawa River running through the background of the entire map and a bridge connecting to Onuma Park as well. There's tons of stuff to see in just this one map, I love looking at old maps and historic things like this. I could stare at it for hours and still find new and interesting things.

I found a few more photos of my trip to Kumagaya. Being as it's the "Rugby Town" of Japan, it's only natural that it has a big statue of a rugby ball! It's kind of a cute statue and it reminds me of something from a movie, although I'm not sure which movie it is I'm thinking of. Apparently there's supposed to be a few of these statues found around other parts of Kumagaya, but I don't remember if I saw them or not. Obviously I saw some of the other statues, like the one over the canal, etc., but I don't remember seeing more than one of this statue. Perhaps at one of the other exits of Kumagaya Station. Also, the statue is apparently called "Rugby Boy" ("ラグビー少年" in Japanese), for anyone curious!