Katayamazu: Nature and Local History

For a trip to Katayamazu, Ishihama offers several distinct themes: cultural history at Unohana-kan and Inari Shrine, nature at Tobiyama Pond, and the Ishihama Circular Trail. Local highlights range from an uncertain historical date to museum collections and riverbanks, the town center, and rice fields. You can tailor your choices to whether you are most interested in stories and collections, a particular aquatic plant, or a route through varied landscapes.

Cultural History in Ishihama

The permanent exhibition at Unohana-kan in Ishihama introduces Odai no Kata, the mother of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the Mizuno clan. In the 16th century, the clan ruled Ogawa Castle; from Higashiura, it rose to become a daimyō clan with influence nationwide. The exhibition thus brings together two historical perspectives: Odai no Kata in Tokugawa Ieyasu’s family history, and the rise of the Mizuno clan in connection with Ogawa Castle and Higashiura.

The museum also collects and preserves finds from shell mounds and old kilns in Higashiura, as well as historical documents and everyday objects. The collections are exhibited and made accessible to the public. Finds, documents, and everyday objects are thus presented side by side as different forms of collection. Check the latest exhibition details and visitor policies before your visit.

The origins of the festival at Inari Shrine in Ishihama are uncertain. A date of 1651 on horse tack suggests that it began in the early Edo period. However, 1651 is only a clue to its possible date, not a definitively established founding year. This distinguishes the festival from the history presented at Unohana-kan: there, named individuals, a clan, and collections take center stage, while here, the festival’s origins remain unclear.

Nature at Tobiyama Pond

Every year, seeds for prickly water lilies are brought from the pond in Odai Park to Tobiyama Pond in the Ishihama district. Growth of the prickly water lily was confirmed there in 2014. The annual sowing thus connects two clearly identified ponds: the pond in Odai Park is the source of the seeds, while Tobiyama Pond is their destination; the 2014 confirmation refers to growth at the destination.

The woodland around Tobiyama Pond has walking paths and is a place to enjoy nature. These paths broaden the focus beyond the sowing of a single plant species to take in the pond woodland as a whole.

Ishihama Circular Trail: Rivers, Town Center, and Rice Fields

The 4.3-kilometer Ishihama Circular Trail follows the Myotokuji and Mametsuki rivers, passes through the old town center, and goes by rice fields. The loop brings together several local landscapes: river courses, the town center, and fields. By contrast, the walking paths at Tobiyama Pond lead into the woodland. If you would like to experience different landscape features along a single route, the circular trail connects these sections. At Tobiyama Pond, the focus is instead on woodland and enjoying nature.

Discover more destinations: Nagoya, Toyohashi, Inuyama, Kariya, Shinshiro, Komaki, Chiryū, Ama

For the overview of the wider region: Aichi Prefecture.