Self-Guided Recommended Coursestivities
Tenryu-Futamata Identity: A Town Walk Woven with Will and Change
The DNA to break the status quo and create tomorrow with one's own hands
In the town of Futamata, a spirit of "breaking the status quo and creating tomorrow with one's own hands" has been passed down for over 200 years. From the history of flood control to shopping streets filled with modern craftsmanship and specialty stores that transmit to the world. This is the Identity Course, where you can feel the DNA of this town firsthand.
01. Niko-daki Falls and the Upper Futamata River
Born in 1935: A Stage for Relaxation Created by Wisdom
The current Niko-daki Falls and the flow of the Futamata River were created by river diversion work in Showa 10 (1935).
During the dry season, the exposed rock surface shows a sculptural beauty like a "stone stage," and in the summer, the lively voices of children drawn by the cold water echo, making it a neighborhood playground.
02. The Aspiration of Yoshinaga Hakamata: A 200-Year Story of "Disaster Mitigation"
From Edo to the Present: The Man who Invested Private Funds to Change the Shape of the Town
The former Futamata River meandered severely, and the Tenryu River often reversed its flow during floods, causing great damage. The one who rescued the town from this predicament was Yoshinaga Hakamata (1716–1791), a local official (nanushi) of the Edo period.
Unyielding Challenge: Hakamata invested his private wealth to carry out a massive channel change (excavation), cutting through Mt. Tobayama. His will was carried on to the Showa era construction, achieving the current peaceful landscape of Futamata.
Ongoing Gratitude: A stone monument to Hakamata stands beside the excavated waterway, where a festival of praise is still held today, passing down the hero's spirit that protected the town.
03. Old Townscape and Storehouses of Futamata
Frontier Spirit Supporting the Merchant Town
Hakamata's spirit of "breaking the status quo" took root not only in flood control but also in the culture of commerce. The old storehouses (kura) and heavy-set buildings visible throughout the town are proof that the people of Futamata strongly survived by changing their form of business to suit the times. The passionate feelings of the merchants who sought to create tomorrow breathe within the quiet dignity exuded by the history.
04. Clover Street Shopping District: An Intersection of DNA that Does Not Fear Change
The main street of Futamata, where long-established shops mix with stores having a new sensibility. Here, famous shops that protect a "culture," not just "consumption," line the street.
■ Tenryu Ham
Taste of Tradition and Trust: The Town's Pride to the Dinner Table
"Tenryu Ham," a specialty shop for homemade ham and sausages, has been loved in the shopping district for many years. Carefully selected ingredients and traditional manufacturing methods that spare no effort. Its utterly uncompromising taste not only brightens the daily lives of Futamata's people but also draws fans from far away. The artisan spirit of "sincerely continuing to make good things" is a symbol of the honest commerce that this town has valued.
Business Hours: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Closed: Sundays
■ Jeans Casual Specialty Shop "Spiral"
Pursuit of the Authentic: Transmitting World-Standard Craftsmanship from Futamata
Walking further down the shopping street, you encounter "Spiral," a specialty shop with a particularly strong individuality. This place, which carefully selects and proposes high-quality denim and casual wear, is a "sanctuary for the discerning" where enthusiastic fans gather from all over the country. While situated in a traditional town, its attitude of constantly pursuing and transmitting the finest clothing is the most passionate modern form of the DNA of "breaking the status quo and creating tomorrow with one's own hands" demonstrated by Yoshinaga Hakamata.
Please use the Futamata Elementary School Front Parking Lot.