The story of
Nasunogahara

The Association for the Promotion of Utilizing Japan Heritage fromthe Period of the Development of Nasunogahara

The story of
NasunogaharaThis is an old, old house located in Nasunogahara,
an area rich in nature.
It has stood here for over 100 years since the Meiji era.

The house, surrounded by the forest, is home to various animals.
See, they hide in the shade of the trees or under the house.
Oh, and there's a flying squirrel on the roof.
The flying squirrel spreads the wings between its legs and jumps
swiftly. Swoosh!
There's an old story about finding a flying squirrel that sneaked into
the attic, so you know flying squirrels have always been around thehouse in Nasunogahara.

The flying squirrels love to look at the beautiful andwell-maintained antique furnishings inside the room.
They are peeking through the window today as well.
As a matter of fact, this family of flying squirrels are
the descendants of that flying squirrel who sneaked
into the house a long time ago.
They have been living here since the house was built,
for generation after generation.

From the times of their ancestors, sneaking around has been their thing.
They sneak around unnoticed, and they end up in the attic.
There's a secret wall painting here that people don't know about.
It was left by their ancestors when they first started living here.
The painting tells this story...

…… This is a story from what the humans call, the “Meiji era”.

Back then, not many people lived in Nasunogahara andthe animals lived freely. But, one day many people
suddenly came.
All the animals were surprised and in a big panic.
They decided to hide in the shade and watch what thehumans were going to do for a while.

It seems that these people who came from the city werepeople who have great ambitions to develop this place.
They are said to be "Kazoku" (nobility or aristocrats).
They are not wearing kimono, instead they are wearing
Western clothes, and some have beards or hats.

Apparently, they are fascinated by the
new culture from the foreign lands
across the sea and want to create big
farms and such.

Many people were plowing the soil andbuilding huts, and the work kept progressing.
One day, a big animal came.
It was an animal that was new to the
Nasunogahara forest.

The one that said “moo” was a cow,
and the one that said “baa” was a sheep.
Both lived on the farm made by humans,
and both were really nice.

The humans are very busy every day.
When we go to the river, there are many people
digging trenches or piling up rocks.
Now we see humans in many places, we've
become used to them.

It seems that the trenches were for bringing water tothe human's homes.
The people on the farm, the cows and sheep, all lookhappy now that they have plenty of water.
The Kazoku also seem to be nodding with satisfaction.

One day, we decided to visit the Kazoku (nobility or aristocrats) again.
They were building something big we'd never seen before.
It looks like they are making a house for humans to live in.
Then, the Kazoku saw us looking at them.
“You should live here when the house is made!”, they said with a smile.
What friendly humans!

After a while, the grand house was finished.
The Kazoku built many more farms and houses and now,
many people are living in Nasunogahara .
We will also start our happy lives near the house.
Today we move in......

…… And so it came to be that the family of flying squirrels started

living in the house that the Kazoku used to live in,and continue to do so to this day.
And, the story of Nasunogahara and the Kazoku who developed itwill be passed on to future generations.

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Nasunogahara, the agricultural
frontier of the Meiji era
Nasunogahara is a vast plateau in the Nasu region.
While it was one of the largest wildland areas of
Honshu, agriculture was not introduced here until
the Meiji era. The region lacked the water
necessary for agriculture, but it developed as
people worked hard to reclaim the wildlands.

What kind of place isNasunogahara?
Nasunogahara lies in northern Tochigi
Prefecture. According to Japan Heritage, thearea consists of four cities and towns in the
Nasu region: Nasushiobara, Ohtawara,
Yaita, and Nasu. The Sabi and Kuma
Rivers flow through the centerof Nasunogahara, while the
Naka River runs to thenortheast and the Houki
River runs to the
The Nasu region issouthwest.

Nasunogahara

Nasu area
Tochigi
Prefecture

shown in green, and thebrown area inside it is
Nasunogahara.

1

One of Japan’slargest alluvial fans

An alluvial fan is terrain created by triangleshaped deposits of sand and gravel that is
carried down from mountains by rivers.
Composite alluvial fans are formed when
multiple alluvial fans combine, andNasunogahara is one of the largest in Japan.
A canyon river

2

Kinu River

The once vast
wildlands

The Nasunogahara region was once coveredby two vast wildland plains called
Nasunishihara and Nasuhigashihara. The
wild grasses and reeds that flourished in the
wildlands were an important source ofthatching for roofs and feed for horses.

A river emerging
from the mountains
to ow out to a plain

3

A river withoutwater—the Sabi Riverater seeps into thesand and gra elt deposits sand andgra el carried fromthe mountains

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The Sabi River with no water

Despite its name, no water can be seen along
the Sabi River, making it one of thecharacteristic sights of the Nasunogahara area.
The water seeps underground, leaving theriverbed full of dry rocks. Water flows in theriver only after heavy rains, etc.

The water disappears
lea ing a dry ri erbed

How alluvial fans work
The sand and gravel deposits are thickest at theentrance to the canyon, and gradually thin out
the further they get from the canyon.

Duke Matsukata’s Villa in Nasunogahara

The water reemerges
downstream

Wild grasses and reeds reminiscent of thewildlands of the Meiji era. Places where thesegrasses and reeds (known as kaya) were harvested
are called kayaba.

The Sabi River with water

One of the largest wildland
reclamation projects in Japanand the Meiji Aristocrats
The Meiji era saw an influx of Western culture as the country soughtto accelerate its development. Various industries thrived amid efforts
toward national prosperity. It was against this backdrop that
Nasunogahara, with some of the largest wildlands in Japan, became
the focus of efforts to develop it for agricultural use and reclamation
began at the hands of the Meiji aristocratic class as well as prominent
locals.
One of the driving forces

behind the nobles involved indeveloping Nasunogahara
w a s a d e s i re to e m u l ate
Western nobles who had vastlands at their disposal.

Water seeps into the thick sand and gravel deposits
in the upper part of the Sabi River, and no waterflows along the riverbed. There is less sand andgravel downstream, so the water emerges to flow
along the surface.

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The Nasu irrigation canals
provide water to Nasunogahara

How were waterways built underground?

The old water pump for the
Nasu irrigation canals wasbuilt by tunneling through asteep cliff along the NakaRiver. A newer facility built
nearby is currently being used.

To draw water from the Nasu
irrigation canals to each farm, it wasnecessary to build undergroundwaterways across the Sabi River.
This was done by taking advantageof the dry river. Rather than digging
underground, riverbed rocks weremoved, rocks were arranged in apentagonal shape to create a tunnel,
and then covered with the riverbed
rocks. This created one single long,underground waterway.

Exit

upstreamchannel❶ Stack rocks in a pentagonal shape tocreate a hollow tunnel.

❷ Cover the rock tunnel with sand andgravel from the riverbed.

A waterway passing
under the Sabi River.
The water is delivered by
Entrance
diverting the water
through a U-Shaped
waterway where thelower water emerges in a
vertical direction.
(fusekoshi / siphon
waterway).
❸ Water flows through the completed
underground tunnel.

The Nasu irrigation
canals today
While the location of the water pump haschanged a number of times, the Nasu
irrigation canals are still in use today. Water
carried by the waterways throughout the
Nasunogahara region are still used for
agriculture, industry, and hydroelectric power.
▲ The water pump for the Nasu

The lack of water was a large obstacle to the development of
Nasunogahara. Prominent locals lobbied the government tobuild the Nasu irrigation canals to provide water to the region.

irrigation canals that draws waterfrom the Naka River. The former
pump is on the cliffs on the right,
and the facilities currently in use
on the left were completed in
1976.

Canal map

◀ A siphon exit where water

History of the Nasu
irrigation canals
People gathered from around thecountry to reclaim Nasunogahara
during the Meiji era. But the area lacked
water, and there wasn’t enough drinking
water to support a large population.
Prominent locals such as Jousaku
Innami and Takeshi Yaita lobbied thegovernment, and a canal was built in1882 to draw drinking water from the
Naka River that flows to the northeastof Nasunogahara. But an even larger
canal was necessary to bring enoughwater for agriculture. After further
lobbying, the Nasu irrigation canals
were built in 1885.
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emerges after passing through anunderground waterway on the Sabi
River. The water then flows along
an aboveground waterway once
more.

Nishiiwa aki water pump

Kuma River

Naka River

Sabi Ri er

The big three canals of apan

Jousaku Innami

Takeshi Yaita

Born in 1831 in what is
now the city of Nikko.
Served in various
positions such as village
head, and founded the
Nasukaikonsha farmand became its firstpresident in 1880.

Born in 1849 in what is
now the city of Yaita.
Served as village headand prefecturallegislator before
becoming the second
president ofNasukaikonsha in 1888
and founding what
would later become
Yaita Farm.

The tunnel inside the old water pump
The east tunnel (above) and west tunnel (below)

A canal is a waterway built to draw water from its source. The Nasu
irrigation canals are known as one of the big three canals of Japan, together
with Asaka Canal in Fukushima Prefecture and the Lake Biwa Canal thatlinks Shiga and Kyoto Prefectures.

Nasu irrigation canals
main channel

Houki Riverst branchchannelrd branchchannelth branchchannelnd branchchannelAsaka Canal

Nasu rrigation Canalake iwa Canal

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Reclamationand farming

It was about 140 years ago that farms were first establishedin Nasunogahara after reclaiming barren wildlands filledwith grasses, reeds, and rocks. As many as 40 farms were
established, including 19 operated by nobles.

Scenes from today’s
farms, 140 years after
reclamation

Senbonmatsu
FarmThis farm was once the Senbonmatsu
Farm founded by Masayoshi Matsukata (seepage 30). (It is currently operated by Horai Co.,
Ltd.) It began dairy farming and raising cows in1946, and is popular today as a tourist
destination as well. There are now multiple
farms in Nasunogahara that retain vestiges of theranches of the Meiji era.

A ranch scene in Nasunogahara, painted
in 1885. The office of Chokosha (seepage 7) can be seen in the backgroundbehind the grazing cows. (Mishima
Ranch from Yuichi Takahashi’s Sakudo
Hakkei series)▲ Spring scenery: soil conditioning▲ Summer scenery: harvesting crops▲ Fall scenery: mowing grass

Minamigaoka
Farm
A tourist farm focused on dairy
farming. Founded in 1948, it
shifted to its current focus on
dairy farming around 1964.

Nasu
Communal
Farm

Scenes from the nobles’
farms of yesteryear▲ Top: cows, ranch hands, and livestockbarns on Oyama Farm (early Showa era).
Middle: grazing sheep and Duke
Matsukata’s Villa on Senbonmatsu Farm
(photo from a private collection, earlyShowa era). Bottom: a tractor on
Senbonmatsu Farm (photo circa 1931).

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As agricultural development of Nasunogahara
began, the prefecture-run Nasu Ranch was
the first to be established in 1878. Association
farms and individual farms founded byprominent locals followed. Cows and sheep
were raised and grapes were grown as western
agricultural products were produced. Many
nobles also came to the region to operate
farms, in part because of its proximity toTokyo.

Agricultural e uipmentof the Meiji era

Agricultural tools produced by Tokyo Mita
Agricultural Tool Manufacturing, diagram 1

Grazing Farmof Oyain Ohtawara city

A communal farm that aims toraise dairy cows efficiently. It
was completed in 1968.

A city-run grazing farm. State-owned wildlands
were developed in 1965 to create the pastures.
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The Meiji era’s
peerage system

The nobles who developed
Nasunogahara

Until the Edo period, Japanese aristocracy
consisted of nobles who served theemperor. In contrast, the kazoku were a
new aristocratic class created in the Meiji
era. As the Meiji government changed thegovernmental system, the domains ruledby feudal lords were replaced by
prefectures, and the lords no longer ruled
their domains. To maintain their highsocietal positions, nobles of the imperial
court, feudal lords, and those who
contributed to the Meiji Restoration were
included in the new peerage system. The
five ranks in increasing order of importancewere baron, viscount, count, marquis, andduke, with privileges and duties establishedfor each. The peerage system continued
until the new constitution was enacted in
1947.

Aristocrats of the Meiji era flocked to Nasunogahara to establish farms anddevelop agricultural land. These nobles, or kazoku, included many notable
figures from the Meiji Restoration and the Meiji government.
Hanna Aoki, daughter of
Shuzo Aoki. Shuzo married
Elisabeth, the daughter of a
German aristocrat, while inGermany as a diplomat. Hanna
was their only child.

Ladies’ Charity Party at Rokumeikan
A picture of a charity bazaar held at
Rokumeikan by wives of high-ranking officials.

Tosuke Hirata(1849-1925)
Government official andpolitician. Count. Took over
Shinagawa Kaikon (later
Kasamatsu Farm) andestablished the Shinagawa
Credit Union.

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Iwao Oyama(1842-1916)
Military officer andpolitician. Duke. Established
Kajiyakaikonjo in 1881 andOyama Farm in 1901.

Masayoshi Matsukata(1835-1924)
Politician. Duke. EstablishedSenbonmatsu Farm in 1893.

Court
noblesFeudallords

From the Meiji era until 1947

Kazokuperson of
meritorious
servicecreated to unify
the ruling class1947 and thereafter

Peeragesystemabolished

Those who
contributed to the
Meiji Restoration

Life of the nobles
Many nobles led lives of luxury by investing the stipend theyreceived from the government, for example. Many also adopted
Western influences, mingling with foreigners and dancing at social
spaces such as Rokumeikan as part of an elegant lifestyle.

Perhaps driven by dreams of owning land near Tokyo like a Western noble’s estate,many nobles built farms and villas in Nasunogahara. Here are some of the nobles
with close ties to Nasunogahara.

(1844-1914)
Diplomat and politician.
Viscount. Established Aoki
Farm in 1881.

Up until the Edo period

The House of Peers
During the Meiji era, the Imperial Diet consisted of the House of Representatives and the House ofPeers. Only those from privileged classes such as imperial family members and nobles could become
members of the House of Peers.

Nobles with ties toNasunogahara

Shuzo Aoki

The peerage system

Judo Saigo

Yajiro Shinagawa(1843-1902)
Military officer andpolitician. Marquis.
Established Kajiyakaikonjo
in 1881 and Saigo Farm in
1901.

(1843-1900)
Diplomat and politician.
Viscount. Established
Shinagawa Farm in 1883.

Michitsune Mishima

Aritomo Yamagata(1835-1888)
Government official.
Viscount. Established
Chokosha in 1880 andMishima Farm in 1886.

Maresuke Nogi

(1849-1912)
Military officer andeducator. Count. Built avilla in Ishibayashi, Karino
Village in 1891.
Photo from Nogi Shrine’s collection.

(1838-1922)
Military officer andpolitician. Duke. EstablishedYamagata Farm in 1884.
Photo from General Yamagata
Memorial Museum’s collection.

Akiyoshi Yamada(1844-1892)
Miliary officer andpolitician. Count.
Established Yamada Farm in1888.
Photo from Yamada Museum’s collection.

Rokumeikana Western-stylevenue built for social
events for foreign
diplomats, etc. aspart of a national
policy ofmodernization
through the adoptionof Western systems
and culture.
Photo from Kasumi Kaikan.

Western wear of the nobles
Left: court uniform of civil officials (1925). Right: court uniform of civil
officials and women’s robe decollete (replica).

Western tableware
tableware used by the Masayoshi
Matsukata household, bearing his
family crest. The dishes weremade in England, and the knives,
forks, spoons, etc. were made inFrance.

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Remnants of the dreams of
Meiji aristocrats

Western-style villas featuring the best of modern architecture can be found in Nasunogahara. Built
as part of their own farms by nobles who strove to emulate the West, they still stand today as proof of
those nobles’ dreams.

Duke Oyama's
Villa

Solid, red-brick construction

Iwao Oyama (duke and field marshal)built this villa on Oyama Farm in two
parts—a Japanese-style villa called the“Japan Building” and the Western-stylebuilding. It was initially only theJapanese-style villa, but the solidWestern-style building was added
around 1905 using red bricks producedon the farm. The villa features anentrance with a gable roof and brickarch on the southern side.
Duke Oyama’s Villa currently stands on the farm of Tochigi Prefectural Nasu Takuyo High School. The Westernand Japanese buildings are connected by a roofed passageway. The star-shaped relief on the entrance lights wasmodeled on the army’s star symbol.

General Yamagata
Memorial Museum

The YA designs on the building

One of the Western-style buildings from Kokian, a villa in Odawara where
Aritomo Yamagata (duke and prime minister) spent his final years. It
collapsed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 after Aritomo’s death, but
was moved to its current location on Yamagata Farm and rebuilt thefollowing year. The “YA” design (based on Aritomo Yamagata’s initials) can
be found in various places such as the exterior walls of the sunroom and thedoors.

Viscount Aoki's
Country Villa in Nasu

Beautiful German-inspired architecture

National important cultural properties

A clean, navy blue Western building. While komainu statues are usually placed in pairs,
a solitary komainu stands in the garden. It is said that its counterpart is in the imperial
palace.

A Western-style villa built by Shuzo Aoki (viscount) on the Aoki Farm in
1888. Having served as ambassador to Germany and being married to
Elisabeth, the daughter of a German aristocrat, Shuzo was known as an
authority on Germany. Designed by Tsumunaga Matsugasaki, who studied
architecture at the Technical University of Berlin, the villa incorporates
German architectural techniques such as wooden framework for the atticon the third floor of the central building.

Elevation drawing of the Aoki villa before relocation.

32

A second-floor bedroom with an elegant ambience.

An attic featuring German-style architecture

A carriage said to have been used at thetime

The original entrance is stillin use today.

Two different shapes ofshingles adorn the exterior
walls.

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Examining the essence of the
Meiji era in Duke Matsukata’s Villa
Duke Matsukata’s Villa stands quietly in a corner of the Senbonmatsu Farm, surrounded by trees.
Lingering vestiges of the Meiji era can still be found in the building.
Duke Matsukata's
Villa

An intriguing space where Japanese and Western influences mix

Masayoshi Matsukata (duke and prime
minister) built a two-story wooden villaon his Senbonmatsu Farm in 1903. The
first story is built with stone (or brickwith stone facing) and the second story
is a wooden structure with plank siding.
Still cared for by the Matsukata family,
the stylish building has been preservedwith its original appearance intact. The
building’s interior is not open to the
public, but we have special permission
to show it here.

Living room: while the walls are the same color
as those in the kitchen, the relaxing colors of thefurnishings give the room a warm feel.

Front entrance: the entry
porch extends outward, coveredby a tiled roof.
Front
entrance

1F▲ Dining room: red carpeting, orange lighting, and bluegray walls combine for a stately ambience and lively
colors.

Upon entering the front door, adrawing room and living room
are on the right side of thehallway and a study is on the left.
The dining room lies straightahead. All are Western-stylerooms with eye-catching andprecious décor, including reliefs
on the ceiling, lighting, window
designs, and furnishings.

Drawing
room

Study

Fireplace(Marble)Fireplace(wood)

Hallway

Livingroom
Diningroom
Balcony

StairsFire
place(wood)The original furnishings still retain their beauty
Many of the original
furnishings still
remain in Duke
Matsukata’s Villa.
Much of thefurniture’s beautiful
color and luster has
deepened over theyears, and all featuredesigns and forms
that can rarely beseen today.

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Ceiling light relief: a delicate
relief reminiscent of asnowflake. The designs varyslightly from room to room.

A historicalJapanese-style room
where Emperor
Taisho and Emperor
Showa stayed before
assuming thethrone.
Fireplace: features decorative tile that
portrays farm scenes of cows and sheep.

A wooden bench
A coat rack inplaced along thethe entryway. Itwall in the dining performs multiple
room. It features a functions with its
compact andmirror andappealing design. umbrella rack.

An armchair inthe living room. Its
quiet texture
blends well withthe otherfurnishings.

An oil lamp on
the living room
mantle. Oil is
added to thebottom of the lamp.

Balcony: a long, sun-filled balcony
enclosed in glass.
▲ The stairs to the second floor.

A room enjoyed by Edwin
Reischauer, the Americanambassador to Japan. Itfeatures tatami mats and afireplace.

Closet2F
The second floor features
décor that mixes Japaneseand Western elements. The
Japanese-style rooms withtatami mats have highceilings and fireplaces ofmarble or wood that vary indesign for each room. The
sunroom-like glass-enclosed
balcony still remains in its
original condition.

Attic: it uses a traditional Japaneseroof framing technique called wagoya.

Fireplace(Marble)Fireplace(Marble)Fireplace(wood)

Hallway
Closet

Jointed shelf
StairsBalcony
Tokonoma(alcove where art or
flowers are displayed)

Fire
place
(wood):The Japanesestyle rooms
withtatami mats

The stairs to the attic.

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The seasons of Nasunogahara
SpringKarasugamori Hill
(Nasushiobara)

Well-known since the Meiji era as aplace to enjoy the cherry blossoms. The
groundbreaking ceremony for the Nasu
irrigation canals was held here in 1885.

Winter

Saigo Shrine (Ohtawara)

A shrine for Judo Saigo (marquisand marshal-admiral), younger
brother of Takamori Saigo andowner of the Saigo Farm. The stonebuilding adorned with sculptures israre for a Japanese shrine.

Visiting Nasunogahara’s attractions
with ties to its pioneering past

(Ohtawara)

The vast Nasunogahara area is filled with places and buildings where you can experience theregion’s history and culture. Enjoy the natural beauty of the seasons as you visit sites with deep
ties to the development of the Meiji era.

From its vantage point atop amountain (512.9 meters high) on
the east side of Nasunogahara, thepark offers views of Nasunogahara’s
rustic scenery.

SummerKoteyasan Park

Getting to know Nasunogahara
Nasunogahara Museum (Nasushiobara)

Yaita Takeshi Memorial Museum (Yaita)
A museum with awide-ranging
collection showing
Nasunogahara’s
development,
nature, and culture.
It stands on the siteof the farm officebuilding built by
Michitsune
Mishima (viscountand superintendent
general of themetropolitan
police).

36

The former residence of Takeshi Yaita, who had close ties to Aritomo
Yamagata and other elder statesmen of the time and built thefoundation for the modernization of the city of Yaita. The museum
also displays
materials related to
the reclamation of
Nasunogahara.

The Museum of History andCulture of Ohtawara City

(Ohtawara)

A museum of the region’s culture ofeveryday life with a focus on folklore
materials. Its collection includes materials
related to agricultural development such as
diagrams of the Kasamatsu Farm office, andreproductions are on display.

Fall

Oyama Street (Nasushiobara)▲The path leading to the tomb of Iwao Oyama,founder of Oyama Farm. The maple trees that line
the way put on a magnificent display of color in
the fall, bringing many to enjoy the autumn
leaves.

Nasu History Museum(Nasu)
A museum showing an overview and highlights of
the history of the town of Nasu, dating back to the
Paleolithic era. In addition to permanent exhibits, itputs on rotating exhibits and special exhibits todisplay historical materials and art with ties to thetown.

The Old Office of Yamada
Farm (Yamada Museum) (Nasu)
A museum on the site of the office building for thefarm built by Akiyoshi Yamada (count and ministerof justice), one of the leaders of the Meiji
Restoration. It displays materials related to Yamada
Farm and the Yamada family.

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Kokosil Japan Heritage
The Future Envisioned
by Meiji Aristocrats

Nasushiobara City

Nasu Town

The Nasuno Mansion ofMaresuke Nogi

A farmhouse-style villa designed by Maresuke
Nogi (count and general) in 1892.

17

Nasunogahara ParkA large-scale prefectural park that includes thelands of the former Senbonmatsu and Mishima
farms and still has some old-growth forests datingback to that time.

23 Reclamation monument

Describes the hardships of former soldiers andpeople who returned from Manchuria who settled
in Nasunogahara after the Second World War andworked to develop the land.

Nasunogahara Japan Heritage
cultural assets map
Tochigi Prefecture

Nasunogahara has 31 cultural assets related to its agriculturaldevelopment and the kazoku, such as villas of historical figures,
Yaita City
many farms, and museums showing the region’s past. Each is avaluable asset to Nasunogahara.
27 Nasu Communal Farm

Ohtawara City
18
7

23 Reclamation monument▶ p.36

1 Viscount Aoki’s

Country Villa in Nasu

28 Minamigaoka

8 The Old Office ofFarm

Yamada Farm
(Yamada Museum)

a
ak

Rive

r

ka
n

To
h

ok

uM

ain

hin
uS
ok

(as a token ofgratitude)

Ri

ve
r

The Old Office of Yamada Farm
(Yamada Museum) ▶ p.37

Irrigation Canals ▶ p.26

20 Nasu Base Line (Viewpoint)

The northern and southern ends of a surveying
base line established in 1878.

9 10 The Old Office of Mishima Farm

11 Yamagata Farm

Site of the farm developed by Aritomo Yamagata(duke and prime minister) in 1884.

25 The Museum of History and

21 Roofing tiles of the

Culture of Ohtawara City ▶ p.37

old Kurodahara
Station(Nasu HistoricalMuseum)

r
ve

a

8

19 Old Water Pump of Nasu

5 Old Imperial Villa

26 Grazing Farm of Oya

in Ohtawara city ▶ p.29

27

30 Nasu Winein ShiobaraouH

29 Senbonmatsu Farm ▶ p.29
6 The Nasuno MansionkiRi(Nasunogahara Museum)

30 Nasu Wineof Maresuke Nogirve

10 The Old Office of Mishima Farm

9

Nasu Communal Farm ▶ p.29

28 Minamigaoka Farm ▶ p.29

20 Nasu Base Line

(Viewpoint)
northern most point

24 Monument (Spirit of the Pioneer)

A monument bearing the history of the post-war
reclamation of Kanemaruhara and the names of thefirst generation of settlers.

(Nasunogahara Museum) ▶ p.36

22 Monument

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Nasu Irrigation
CanalsToh

3 Duke Matsukata’su

19 Old Water Pump of

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17 Nasunogahara Park

29 Senbonmatsu Farm

The Mansion of Takeshi Yaita(Takeshi Yaita Memorial Museum)

Sabi River ▶ p.24

13 Oyama Street

4 General Yamagata

Memorial Museum

24 Monument(Spirit of the Pioneer)

11 Yamagata Farm

21 Roofing tiles of the old Kurodahara
12 Saigo Shrine ▶ p.37

Station (Nasu Historical Museum)

13 Oyama Street ▶ p.37

The aging station building was dismantled, and its
roofing tiles are on display at the Nasu HistoricalMuseum.

14 Karasugamori Hill ▶ p.37

14 Karasugamori Hill
16 Koteyasan Park

31 Yaita Apples
7 The Mansion of Takeshi Yaita

26 Grazing Farm of Oya(Takeshi Yaita Memorial Museum)in Ohtawara city

2 DukeOyama’s
Villa

20 Nasu Base Line

(Viewpoint)southern most point

12 Saigo Shrine▶ p.37

Watanabe Vineyard is one of Japan’s oldest
wineries, dating back to the Meiji era. It makes its
wines using its own grapes.

15

Grave of Tosuke Hirata

Gravestone of Tosuke Hirata (count and home
minister) who operated Kasamatsu Farm after
taking it over from Yajiro Shinagawa (viscount andprivy councilor).
31 Yaita Apples

25 The Museum of History andCulture of Ohtawara City

22 Monument (as a token of gratitude)

A monument expressing gratitude to Akiyoshi
Yamada and the Yamada family.

15 Grave of Tosuke Hirata

It is said that apple growing began in Yaita in 1914
when Aritomo Yamagata invited experts from
Aomori to plant seedlings.

Municipal boundary1

Viscount Aoki’s Country
Villa in Nasu ▶ p.32

2 Duke Oyama’s Villa ▶ p.33

38

3

Duke Matsukata’s Villa ▶p.34

4

General Yamagata Memorial
Museum ▶ p.33

5

Old Imperial Villain Shiobara

The predecessor of the villabuilt by Michitsune Mishima.
In 1903, it was presented to
the Imperial Household. The
Imperial Villa was built.

River
National highway
Expressway
Shinkansen line
JR line16 Koteyasan Park ▶ p.36

39