The air is clean and pleasant at NANATAKI Falls in Kosaka Town.
- ファベル 株式会社
- Jul 18, 2024
- 3 min read
“ NANATAKI Falls” on the way to Lake Towada from Kosaka Town.
The road “Jukai Line” (starting point in Odate City) from Kosaka- town, Akita Prefecture to Lake Towada runs through virgin forest on the western shore of Lake Towada to the “HAKKA-TOGE Observatory” on the lake. It is popular as a driving course where one can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. In early July, when the rainy season had not yet ended, I stayed at the Gold Palace Hotel in Kosaka for three days to take care of some business. In between errands, I took a 10-minute drive along the Jukai Line in a light rain to Nanataki Village. On the right side of the road toward Lake Towada is NATAKI Falls, one of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan, and on the left side of the road is a Michi no Eki (roadside station). It had been more than 10 years since I had visited Nanataki Village. A new winery, “ Nanataki-Kosaka Wine,” was built nearby, and the area seemed to have become somewhat more “touristy” since my last visit.
It is no use talking too much about the past, but until about 30 years ago, there was no roadside station and the “waterfall” itself was hidden by tree branches during the summer, making it a kind of “densely wooded” place. Perhaps the number of visitors to the Jukai Line has increased, and more people are stopping here. The waterfall is now even more clearly visible. The grass had been cut well, and the air after the rain was very clear and pleasant. Even though the area has become a “tourist spot,” it was sparsely populated, and I spent some peaceful time listening to the sound of the stream flowing beneath the waterfall.
Nanataki-Kosaka Wine
The wine currently distributed under the brand name “Kosaka Nanataki Wine” is the predecessor of “Kosaka Wine” and sales began in 1988. Although the wine was made from locally grown grapes, there was no local winery at the time, and the winemaking and processing was outsourced to other prefectures. With the completion of a winery in Nanataki in 2017, the company changed its brand name to “Kosaka Nanataki Wine” and has continued to produce wines, especially those made from the SHOKOSHI, a mountain grape hybrid unique to Japan.
URL of Kosaka Nanadaki Winery
Since the SHOKOSHIt is not very high in alcohol content, sake lovers like me tend to drink it like a juice, but it goes well with a variety of dishes. I feel that the quality of domestic wines is improving not only in this region but everywhere.
NANATAKI Shrine
To reach the falls from the Jukai Line, cross the bridge over the stream that runs parallel to the road nearby. NANATAKI Shrine is on the left side of the bridge. The shrine is said to have been built in 1713 as a place to pray for a good harvest, safety for cattle and horses, and protection from various diseases (according to the History of Kosaka Town, New Edition, published in 2023). It is a small shrine, but it has a quiet atmosphere that one rarely encounters in “sightseeing spots.” Listening to the sound of the water falling into the waterfall basin behind it, I tried to imagine the people who lived in this position 300 years ago.
Travel Info
Hotel “Gold Palace” in Kosaka Town URL
I have used this hotel several times since it was first opened. The “deluxe twin” rooms, which are in a separate building from the main building, are spacious, and the scenery outside the window is relaxing. It is more expensive than a regular twin room, but I personally like it.
(July 16, 2024, TK)
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