Around Cosmos Arena Fukiage

Behind the precincts of Takaohikone Shrine in Tako, Yoshimi town, there is a rocky mountain with a great view. If you climb up the mountainside and stomp your feet, you will hear a clomping sound. There is a legend regarding this place that goes something like this. Once upon a time, there was a rich man who was looking for a place to hide his treasure. One day, he paid a visit to Takaohikone Shrine and asked for the best place to hide his treasure. The god told him, "Bury it in this rocky mountain. I will protect it for you." The man felt relieved and buried all his riches in the mountain. Today, as a remnant of this story, the rocky mountain is called Mount Ponpon and is said to be inhabited by a divine spirit.

Of the total 61 kilometers of the Motoara River, 8 kilometers run through the Fukiage area. There are 17 bridges across the river, including the Shinsaga Bridge, a Civil Engineering Heritage Site selected by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. Many of the bridges are decorated with poems and sculptures, making the exploration of them a perfect activity for some leisurely sightseeing!

Yoshimi Town is dotted with artificial swamps, which actually are reservoirs built for rice paddy cultivation. Lake Hatcho is one such artificial swamp with an area of about 52000 square meters. The kanji letter for "Ha" can also mean both "eight" and "many," similar to how the symbol for eight is the same as the symbol for infinity. This can be found in many words and expressions used throughout the Japanese language, where the number eight is used to describe "too many to count." Lake Hatcho used to be called "Hatcho Hassan no Numa," which also is a play on eight, but since the name is incorrect, it isn't in use anymore.

Anraku-ji Temple is the 11th temple in Bando and has been known as Yoshimi Kannon since ancient times. The main deity of the temple is the Holy Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the deity of compassion, and according to the Yoshimi Kannon Enki, it all started about 1200 years ago when a statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva was carved and placed in the rock cave. Every year on June 18, the Kannon is unveiled in the early morning to the public to ward off evil spirits. As a tradition, they also sell special "Yakuwake Dango (literally dumplings to ward off evil)" on this day. Even to this day, on June 18th, the long approach to Anraku-ji Temple is lined with stalls, and the area becomes very crowded from around 2 am to early morning.

Hana no Oasis is a park located in the Teraya district, the birthplace of flower production in Konosu. In spring, a tulip festival is held amid 40,000 tulips. In autumn, you can enjoy late-blooming sunflowers.