【English】All About Hiraizumi#01 Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center
Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center run by Hiraizumi town.
What kind of facility is it?
Mr. Takanori Sato, Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center
We introduce the charm of cultural assets of Hiraizumi including the ones registered as World Heritage by showing easy-to-understand panels and videos. By visiting the center prior to traveling to historic sites, tourists can have better understanding of cultural assets and history of Hiraizumi
At the entrance hall, a mini feature exhibition concerning Hiraizumi and a sample of Chuson-ji Lotus which blossomed after being dormant for 800 years are displayed so that the image of Hiraizumi is projected.
In the exhibition room, history related to Hiraizumi from the era of Abe clan to the modern times are displayed lucidly.
Artifacts excavated in the town are exhibited as well which can be viewed as proof of the history.
There are also exhibitions related to historic sites which are aimed to be additionally registered as World Heritage.
Mr. Takanori Sato:
There are five sites aimed to be additionally registered as World Heritage: Takkoku no Iwaya and Yanagi no Gosho Site in Hiraizumi, Honedera Village Manor Site in Ichinoseki city, and Shirotoritate Mansion Remains and Chojagahara defunct temple site in Oshu city.
At Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center, visitors can observe the history of Hiraizumi freely, including the history of the assets registered as World Heritage and the sites aimed to be the additional registration.
It is recommended to visit there at the beginning of your sight-seeing tour in Hiraizumi.
Sight-seeing tour in Hiraizumi will become even more enjoyable by learning its history there beforehand.
Tourism and Commerce Division, Hiraizumi Town Hall
kankou@town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp
Hiraizumi Tourism Association Facebook
World Heritage: Hiraizumi | Nippon.com
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On June 25, 2011, the temples and archeological sites of Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture became a World Heritage site—a welcome piece of good news for the Tōhoku region, still reeling from the March 11 disaster.
Music: Ikeda Ayako, Oborozukiyo, (39ERS RECORDS)
Best Attractions and Places to See in Hiraizumi cho, Japan
Hiraizumi-cho Travel Guide. MUST WATCH. Top things you have to do in Hiraizumi-cho. We have sorted Tourist Attractions in Hiraizumi-cho for You. Discover Hiraizumi-cho as per the Traveler Resources given by our Travel Specialists. You will not miss any fun thing to do in Hiraizumi-cho.
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List of Best Things to do in Hiraizumi-cho
Konjiki-do
Chuson-ji Temple
Takkoku no Iwaya
Motsuji Temple
Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center
Hiraizumicho Cyclic Bus Runrun
Hakusan Shrine
Takadachi Gikeido
Kyu Oi-do
Michi-no-Eki Hiraizumi
Hiraizumi Temple Japan
Hiraizumi is a land has historical significant to the people of Japan and also mainly for the buddhist followers .
This land is dedicated as Pure buddhist land.
IWATE Press Tour (Hiraizumi aims to be a World Heritage site)
Foreign Press Center Japan
October 16, 2008【IWATE Press Tour (Hiraizumi aims to be a World Heritage site)】
～Big challenges and issues of small towns: Co-existence with nature beyond time and space, nurtured by the earth and people in Iwate～
■Hiraizumi, ancient capital of Michinoku, aims to be a World Heritage site
Hiraizumi-cho, Iwate prefecture, Japan
About 800 years ago, the Oshu-Fujiwara family built its own political and administrative center in Hiraizumi, a place that was strategically important for waterway traffic, based upon Pure Land Buddhist cosmology and in adaptation to the diverse natural landforms.
Cultural heritage of Hiraizumi, centered on Chusonji Temple and Motsuji Temple, was added to Japan's tentative list of World Heritage sites in 2001. It was recommended as a World Heritage site to the UNESCO in 2006, called Hiraizumi- Cultural Landscape Associated with Pure Land Buddhist Cosmology.
However, the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee decided in July this year to postpone the registration. Mr. Takuya Tasso, governor of Iwate prefecture, encouraged people in the prefecture by quickly setting out a policy to aim for registration in 2011. Moreover, local entities concerned are boldly conducting activities that were initially planned, showing their determination to make another bid.
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- Mr. Takuya Tasso, Governor of Iwate prefecture
- Mr. Nobutane Chiba, World Heritage Promotion Office, Hiraizumi-cho
- Mr. Chojun Kanno, Executive Director of Chusonji Temple
- Mr. Myokyu Fujisato, Executive Director
【English】All About Hiraizumi #1 －The Birth of Hiraizumi－
The first of the Fujiwara lords, Kiyohira, established the prosperity of the Fujiwara family.
Kiyohira was born in 1056. He lost his father in the Former Nine Years' War then in the Latter Three Years' War, when he fought against his half-brother, he lost his wife and children.
Having survived the vortex of war, Kiyohira finally become the ruler of Oshu, northeastern Japan. He developed the city of Hiraizumi, which was designed to be the capital of a truly peaceful country.
There are thought to be several reasons why Kiyohira chose Hiraizumi as the capital. Firstly, Hiraizumi was geographically very similar to Kyoto. Secondly it was a strategic point of water and land transport. Thirdly, the land on the eastern side of the Kitakami River, opposite Hiraizumi, was a highly productive area.
Kiyohira's territory extended from the Shirakawa Barrier in the South to Sotogahama in the north. Hiraizumi was right in the center.
To create a peaceful country, Kiyohira first restored the highway running south to north, and then built a pagoda in Hiraizumi.
This was the beginning of Kanzan Chuson-ji.
Chuson-ji is said to have been founded by Jikaku-daishi in 850. Under Kiyohira the temple expanded as he developed Hiraizumi as the capital of Oshu in the late 11th century.
In its heyday there were 40 temple buildings and 300 priests' temple quarters.
Most of the temple buildings were destroyed by fires in medieval times. Konjikido is the only building to survive intact as evidence of how Hiraizumi looked in the past.
Tourism and Commerce Division, Hiraizumi Town Hall
kankou@town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp
Hiraizumi Tourism Association Facebook
【English】All About Hiraizumi#25 Utopia as dreamed by Hidehira and Yoshitsune
Broadcasted on September 24th, 2014
A special exhibit commemorating the third anniversary of registration as World Heritage Site is being held at Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center.
‘Utopia as dreamed by Hidehira and Yoshitsune’
We asked Manager Kazuo Takahashi from Tourism, Commerce and Industry Section of Hiraizumi Town about the event.
This year marks the third anniversary of Hiraizumi’s cultural assets being registered as World Heritage Site. In commemoration, we planned the event so that the visitors can easily learn the value of Hiraizumi’s cultural assets through the exhibit of the figures and a hands-on corner.
It is the ryutogekishu boat floating on Oizumi ga Ike Pond in Motsu-ji, isn’t it?
Which scene does it reproduce?
It is the reproduction of the scene when Minamoto no Yoshitsune came to Hiraizumi for the second time. One of the exhibited scenes depicts Lord Fujiwara no Hidehira welcoming him. The main feature of the event is the hands-on corner where visitors can experience wearing twelve-layered kimono or sitting in an ox cart. We hope many people will come and visit.
The inside the ox cart is surprisingly spacious.
Yoshitsune liked playing a transverse flute. Try it to see if the sound comes out beautifully.
Why not having commemorative pictures taken with life-sized figures of Hidehira and Yoshitsune?
Hiraizumi Town plans to continue presenting the cultural assets of Hiraizumi for people to understand them easily. Towards the fifth anniversary, we will hold evens of various kinds hoping that many people will come and visit.
One fourth sized scale models with details carefully made reproduce the scenes of gorgeous lifestyle of the Heian Era. By all means, please enjoy the world of utopia as dreamed by Hidehira and Yoshitsune.
The event is being held till November 16th, 2014.
Tourism and Commerce Division, Hiraizumi Town Hall
kankou@town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp
Hiraizumi Tourism Association Facebook
[Cantonese] Japan world heritage Hiraizumi - Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites 日本世界遗产 平泉
[ 平泉 - 象征着佛教净土的庙宇、园林与考古遗址. 由5处遗址组成，其中包括圣山金鸡山。11及12世纪时，平泉是日本北部地区与京都相抗衡的行政中心，至今尚留存有当时府衙的遗迹。平泉文化遗产中的遗址按照8世纪流传到日本的佛教净土宗的宇宙观建成，象征着人们渴望死后往生的佛陀净土以及此生的静心之境。结合了日本本土的自然崇拜与神道教的影响，净土宗发展出了日本独特的规划与园林设计理念。
World Heritage Japan Hiraizumi
Hiraizumi in the southwestern part of Iwate Prefecture is a town extending up the Hiraizumi Hill on the west bank of the Kitakami-gawa River, that prospered for almost 100 years from the 11th to 12th centuries as the center of the Tohoku region (the northeastern region). Over 3,000 national treasures and historical sites still remain, telling of the Fujiwara Clan that reigned over the area in the zenith of its prosperity. The splendid culture that appeared during the reign of the Fujiwaras lasted for three generations and has been preserved in the area to this day.
JG☆☆☆☆☆ 4K HDR 岩手 平泉毛越寺庭園の紅葉(世界遺産,特別名勝) Iwate Hiraizumi Moutsuji(W Heritage,Special Scenic Beauty)
岩手県平泉町 毛越寺 Moutsuji, Hiraizumi town,Iwate
【English】All About Hiraizumi#13 Sightseeing by Bicycle in Hiraizumi, World Heritage Site
Broadcasted on July 8th, 2015
Sightseeing by bicycle in Hiraizumi, World Heritage site!
Hiraizumi is the smallest town in Iwate Prefecture in size.
Since the attractive tourist spots are concentrated in the small town, Hiraizumi is a perfect place for sightseeing by bicycle!
In this program, we will guide you along a nice cycling route.
First off, let’s rent a bicycle at a rental cycle shop ‘Gold-Rent Hiraizumi’ or ‘Swallow Tour’, both located near Hiraizumi Station. Along with regular bicycles, electric assist bicycles are available.
First place to visit is Yanagi no Gosho Site. It has a historic park of remains and a museum where many archeological objects unearthed there are on display.
Muryoko-in Ato and Takadachi Gikeido Hall are located along the route from Yanagi no Gosho to Chuson-ji.
Gikeido Hall is said to be the place where Minamoto no Yoshitsune died.
Crossing a railroad and a national road, we reached Chuson-ji. Please park your bicycle at a designated area.
There are many restaurants and souvenir shops. It is a good place to have a lunch break!
At Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center, easy-to-understand overview of Hiraizumi’s history is displayed.
With deeper understanding of Hiraizumi’s history, let’s head for Kanjizaio-in Ato and Motsu-ji.
It takes about three hours to tour along this route from the train station.
Please enjoy the sightseeing of Hiraizumi, feeling the breeze of Pure Land.
A pamphlet is indispensable for sightseeing.
A message from Ms. Yuka Sato, a promotional girl of Bijotabi Iwate.
We created wonderful new pamphlets. We hope that many people read them to know more about Hiraizumi, World Heritage site. Please come and go sightseeing here.
Tourism and Commerce Division, Hiraizumi Town Hall
kankou@town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp
Hiraizumi Tourism Association Facebook
Hiraizumi: Once Again a Beacon of Hope - JVT 2012-03
Located in a fertile plain by the Kitakamigawa River, Hiraizumi became the political and cultural center of the Tohoku region in the 11th and 12th centuries, after the end of a period of civil war. The unique culture of its golden age was fostered by the ruling Oshu Fujiwara clan, who ordered the construction of many temples and gardens embodying the Buddhist concept of the Pure Land paradise. Many of these 12 century masterpieces have survived to this day, most notably Chuson-ji Temple with its Golden Hall and Motsu-ji Temple with its famous Pure Land garden. Magnificent representations of this Buddhist Pure Land concept, the gardens and temples of Hiraizumi are now a World Heritage site.
Japan Video Topics
© Web-Japan.org
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
【English】All About Hiraizumi #12 Sites aiming for World Heritage registration. Part I
World Heritage Hiraizumi is aiming to have five additional sites registered. This time and next week we will show the five sites. There is a massive cliff on the way from Motsu-ji to Genbi Gorge. Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo is built as if covering a cave within this cliff. The Bishamondo was commissioned by 'Barbarian-quelling Generalissimo' Sakanoue no Tamuramaro to celebrate his victory over the Emishi in 801. It has been destroyed by fire several times (the current hall, built in 1961, is the fifth reconstruction) but the tradition of the hall has been passed down for more than a thousand years to the present day. The cliff face to the west of the hall has a large carving of a seated Buddha. There is a legend that it was created by Minamoto no Yoshiie to mourn the dead from wars. This is the northernmost rock-carved Buddha in Japan.
The site of Yanagi no gosho covers the enormous area of 110,000 sq.m., which is about two and a half times the size of Tokyo Dome. Many artifacts and foundations have been excavated from this site. From the quality and quantity of these items, the site is thought to have been the administrative headquarters of the Fujiwara clan. There is a wide variety of artifacts ranging from those for daily use to ceremonial. One is a bronze seal engraved with the village name Iwasakimura, the first seal ever found representing a village in Japan and very important material for research into local government in the late Heian era. Kawarake, disposable earthenware saké dishes used for celebrations, are the most commonly excavated artifacts at the site. More than ten tons have been found which shows how prosperous Hiraizumi was in those days.
Takkoku no Iwaya and Yanagi no gosho are very important sites for the study of Hiraizumi's history.
Tourism and Commerce Division, Hiraizumi Town Hall
kankou@town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp
Hiraizumi Tourism Association Facebook
Motsuji Ennen ( Hiraizumi Town )
Ennen no Mai, or longevity dances, are Buddhist ceremonial dances popularly performed during the Heian through Muromachi periods ( from about the 8th to the 16th century ) . There are various programs such as the Old Woman Dance ( Rojomai ) , Young Woman Dance ( Jakujomai ) , a rabbit-like hopping dance ( Romai ) , Dengaku-odori, danced with straw hats decorated with imitation cherry blossoms and camellias, etc. Ennen is an important element of traditional Japanese performing arts; Motsuji's Ennen no Mai is one of the most well-preserved examples of Ennen found in Japan today. It is performed in the Hatsukayasai Festival at Motsuji Jogyodo Hall on January 20, as well as in the Spring and Fall Fujiwara Festivals, the Iris Festival, and the Bush Clover Festival.
Esashi Fujiwara no Sato (えさし藤原の郷), Oshu for You Ep. 12
If you’re looking for a good tourism spot to vist in Tohoku, Esashi Fujiwara no Sato in Esashi, Oshu, Iwate Prefecture has you covered. Join Perly, Mary, Amanda and Dean as they battle it out in samurai armor, channel Katniss at the Japanese archery section, get eaten by an “oni” and eat a wide selection of hot and cold noodles including Morioka reimen.
About the ILC and Oshu for You:
The International Linear Collider is an international project that will try to uncover the mysteries of the universe with the most powerful electron accelerator in history, and the Kitakami site (including Oshu city) is a candidate site for the ILC. Oshu city is located in the southern part of Iwate Prefecture, Tohoku, Japan.
In this series, we showcase some of the many wonderful sites in and around Oshu city! This video is produced by the International ILC Support Committee, the Oshu International Relations Association, and Oshu City.
Motsu-ji ( Hiraizumi Town )
( Special historic site; special place of scenic beauty )
Originally established in 850, Motsu-ji flourished during the peaceful Golden Culture which lasted for about a century under Motohira and Hidehira, the second and third lords of the Fujiwara clan. Motsu-ji was one of the most renowned spiritual places in Japan, with over 40 temple buildings, 500 monk residences, and the grand Kondo Enryuji Temple. Regrettably, none of the original structures remain today due to repeated fires; what remain today are sites of foundations, cornerstones, mounds, corridors, gates, and halls, as well as the site of Kondo Enryuji Temple. The Jokodo Hall we see today was rebuilt in 1732. There is a treasure museum with various displays such as Buddhist images, writings, craftwork, equipment used in the Ennen no Mai dance, and excavation data.
The beautiful Heian-style garden is designated as a special place of scenic beauty. In the center of the garden is Oizumi ga Ike Pond, about 10,000 m² in size. This is the only Heian-period structural site in Japan with a remaining yarimizu aqueduct.
【English】All about Hiraizumi #48 Former Kanjizaio-in Temple Garden
The Former Kanjizaio-in Temple Garden is known today as Kanjizaio-in Ato and is a local park for the residents of Hiraizumi. This site, a temple commissioned by the wife of second Fujiwara lord Motohira, was originally their place of residence. The original buildings were destroyed by fire but the remaining foundations have been designated a Special Historical Site.
Stepping into the precinct through the remains of the South Gate, the temple garden spreads out with the Maizurugaike (Dancing Crane Pond) in the centre. The garden was designed according to the precepts of Sakuteiki, the oldest Japanese treatise on gardening written in the 11th century, and has survived in almost its original form.
There are two halls on the far side of the Maizurugaike Pond. Here, on May 4th every year, a ceremony called the 'Nakimatsuri' (Weeping Festival) is held as a memorial service for Motohira's wife. A priest chants sutras while pretending to weep, which is why the festival bears this name.
The place where the present buildings (constructed in the Edo era) stand, was the site of a large Amida Hall in the Heian era. In this former hall there were many paintings of the sights of Kyoto and because of these, it is said to have been visited by many people.
The Former Kanjizaio-in Temple Garden was designated one of the assets of the World Heritage of Hiraizumi in 2011. Today, Kanjizaio-in Ato is a historical park that preserves a Heian era appearance while also serving as a venue for many public events and is a place for townsfolk and visitors alike to relax.
Tourism and Commerce Division, Hiraizumi Town Hall
kankou@town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp
Hiraizumi Tourism Association Facebook
Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of ... (UNESCO/NHK)
Five hundred years of Ryukyuan history (12th-17th century) are represented by this group of sites and monuments. The ruins of the castles, on imposing elevated sites, are evidence for the social structure over much of that period, while the sacred sites provide mute testimony to the rare survival of an ancient form of religion into the modern age. The wide- ranging economic and cultural contacts of the Ryukyu Islands over that period gave ...
Source: UNESCO TV / © NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai
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IWATE Press Tour (Hiraizumi becomes an International Tourism Site)
Foreign Press Center Japan
October 16, 2008【IWATE Press Tour (Hiraizumi becomes an International Tourism Site)】
～Big challenges and issues of small towns: Co-existence with nature beyond time and space, nurtured by the earth and people in Iwate～
(Voice: Mr. Nobutane Chiba, World Heritage Promotion Office, Hiraizumi-cho)
Hiraizumi is a place for sightseeing. We have a hope that this place can be upgraded from domestic to international tourism through its touristic elements.
- Mr. Kunio Onodera, Chairman of Hiraizumi Tourism Association
I believe it is important to let World Heritage and tourism live together. There is a sense of unity among the local people about World Heritage. I am very happy about this. Then, I think there will be an atmosphere unique to Hiraizumi, and this is most important.
- Mr. Takebobu Sato, representative, Chusonji-dori Youth Association Mutsumi-Kai
As a person living in Hiraizumi, I feel that we must study more during the next three years. We hope we will be able to communicate naturally with tourists from home and abroad without being pretentious.
- Mr. Yuya Sasaki, Hidehiranuri Oochiya
I personally produce Hidehiranuri. The traditional crafts industry is now facing a very difficult time. This is partly because we have not released enough information until now.
So I plan to release more and more information by doing workshop tours and explaining about the process and sales of Hidehiranuri through the Internet.
- Mr. Kazuo Takahashi, Mayor of Hiraizumi-cho
It is said that value is universal. So I think the registration was postponed, not because Hiraizumi's heritage is not valuable, but because the description of it was somewhat insufficient. If we can describe it sufficiently, I believe it will certainly be registered. We will work together and do our best, so I hope you will support us.
Best Attractions and Places to See in Ichinoseki, Japan
Ichinoseki Travel Guide. MUST WATCH. Top things you have to do in Ichinoseki. We have sorted Tourist Attractions in Ichinoseki for You. Discover Ichinoseki as per the Traveler Resources given by our Travel Specialists. You will not miss any fun thing to do in Ichinoseki.
This Video has covered Best Attractions and Things to do in Ichinoseki.
Don't forget to Subscribe our channel to view more travel videos. Click on Bell ICON to get the notification of updates Immediately.
List of Best Things to do in Ichinoseki, Japan
Konjiki-do
Chuson-ji Temple
Takkoku no Iwaya
Motsuji Temple
Gembi Valley
Geibikei
Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center
Hiraizumicho Cyclic Bus Runrun
Hakusan Shrine
Takadachi Gikeido