ONSEN

Hidden Treasure Fresh natural spring water since the Jomon period

Since the Jomon period (around 1000 BC), Sawatari has had hot springs.It is a land surrounded by nature and a place where people can live easily.The rich history of Kiso no Yoshinaka and Yoritomo Genji has healed their fatigue in Sawatari.Sawatari is a land loved by great people such as Choei Takano, physician Sotei Fukuda, writer Bokusui Wakayama, and more.

Benefits of Sawatari Onsen

Sawatari was established as a (hot spring/spa?) 800 years ago. Half a century of rainwater penetrates deep underground and absorbs minerals for over 40 years. The resulting spring water erupts above 55ºC at the water source.

CUISINE

Kibi daifuku

Kibi Daifuku is a soft, round rice cake stuffed with sweet bean jam. Daifuku is being sell at Nakaya-manju in Sawatari Onsen Town. There are pale yellow grains baked into the cake, which goes well with red bean paste . There are mixed set of Daifuku and Onsen Manju.

ATTRACTION

Must see Historic heritage sites in SawatariManyo Poem Monument

At the Manyo Poem Monument of Sawatari Shrine there’s a poem that, roughly translated as: “I accidentally met a Sawatarian girl, but I was riding my horse so fast that I didn’t have time to express my praise…”

The Commemorative Plaque of Sotei Fukuda

Fukuda Sotei was a doctor in the Edo period. He was born in 1791 (3rd year of Kansai). He studied traditional medicine from Toutei Ninomiya and Dutch medicine from Choei Takano. He established a hospital in Agatsuma-gun, the hometown of Gunma. He and Choei translated a book about surgical technique named “Kesshi Gekasho” written in original Dutch by Guessel. Fukuda protected Choei when he escaped from prison. Fukuda died on November 28 1841 (11th year of Tenpo).

Essential festivalsThe Torioi Festival and Don-Don-Yaki

Mt. Tenjin overlooks Sawatari Town. The festival god called Okuninushi is the first of 22 pillars on the mountain. At the end of the Meiji period, they were erected to worship the gods of the Kamisawatari area. There is a monument called Manyokahi near the temple. It was built by Fukuda Rokuemon at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868).

EXPERIENCES

Tea tasting at Shirakubo

To celebrate the night festival, A tea tasting ceremony called Ochako is held every February 24th at Shirakubo Tenman Shrine. This is a unique event where participants have to drink one of four types of tea and guess which tea it is by the taste. This event is held by the Ochako Preservation Society. You can participate from 15 to 40 people. The event fee is 30,000 yen. For more information, please contact Machida of the Ochano Preservation Society (0279-66-1922). Or contact Nakanojo Museum at (0279-75-1922).

EVENTS

Bokusui Festival

This annual event is held on October 20th. The poet Bokusui Wakayama wrote “Kareha no Uta” at the Kuresaka Pass when he passed through Sawatari on his way from Kusatsu on this day in the Taisho period. Participants commemorated this day, and the Society for Preservation erected a monument inscribed with Bokusui’s poem. At the time of the festival, the Kuresaka Pass is colored with red leaves of larches and broad-leaf trees.There is a service that provides tourists with bowls of nameko (butterscotch mushroom) miso soup.

Imonikai

This annual event takes place in mid-October. The senior club of Arikasa is the heart of the event. They plant the taro seed in spring. They use freshly duged taro before the festival. In order to feed about 300 participants, 30kg village taro is boiled. And it is a great opportunity for tourists to interact with locals.