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1. Yuzu Orchard Landscape
The Chugei Region is known for yuzu, which has sustained the region's economy since the decline of the lumber industry. With a total production area of 213 hectares and over 3,000 tons of volume, it is Japan's greatest producer of yuzu. Vast yuzu orchards spread across the mountains of the Chugei Region.
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2. Yuzu Cuisine
(Kitagawa Village, Umaji Village, Yasuda Town)Yuzu, which has been used by the Japanese for over a thousand years, is essential to Japanese cuisine. In the Chugei Region, it is used in home cooking and is also considered a necessity in traditional platters served for feasts.
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3. Old Yuzu Trees
Yuzu trees planted from seed over 300 years ago still remain in the Shima District of Kitagawa Village. Yuzu has been in the lives of the local people since old times.
Designated Natural Monument of Kitagawa Village
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4. Yuzu Press
As the pioneer of yuzu cultivation, the Chugei Region was also the first to develop the yuzu press.
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5. Yuzu Hajimaru Festival (Yasuda Machinami Visitor Center: Nagomi)
This festival takes place in Umaji Village usually in October or November every year to celebrate the start of the yuzu harvest season. Pray for a safe harvest season and enjoy the first juicing.
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6. Shintaro and Yuzu Local Festival
This annual local festival takes place in Kitagawa Village in October. It celebrates the yuzu harvest and honors Nakaoka Shintaro, a native of Kitagawa and an early supporter of yuzu cultivation.
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7. Nakaoka Shintaro's Historic Home
Nakaoka Shintaro, an early promoter of yuzu cultivation, was born in this historic home, which has since been restored.
Designated Historic Site of Kochi Prefecture
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8. Nakaoka Shintaro's Memorial Grave
Kane, Shintaro's wife, lies to the left of his gravesite, and adjacent to her are the gravestones of his father, Kodenji, and mother, Ushi.
Designated Historic Site of Kitagawa Village
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9. Senbonyama Mountain
Natural Yanase cedar is known for its high quality, and while most of it has been cut down, Senbonyama Mountain still has old-growth forests with average tree ages of 200-300 years. See the primitive landscape of enormous Yanase cedar trees and enjoy a hike along the Senbonyama hiking trail.
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10. Tree Farms of Feudal Japan
During the Edo Period, in an effort to save the Yanase Mountains of Tosa, the Tosa Clan actively managed its natural forests.
They actively planted cedar trees to preserve the forest, and today, the enormous trees still remain in those areas. -
11. The Giant Cedar of Asahideyama Mountain
This natural cedar tree estimated at 800 years old is the only heritage tree in the Chugei Region. The Asahideyama community once held a festival that celebrated rice and yuzu.
Designated Natural Monument of Umaji Village
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12. Zaimoku Nagashi (Wooden Plaque), Dake Sakamoto Shrine
Before the railway was built, the Chugei Region had a rich history of forestry, with lumber being transported by way of the Yasuda River and the Nahari River.
The scene of the times is depicted in this wooden plaque dedicated to the Dake Sakamoto Shrine.Designated Tangible Cultural Property of Nahari Town (Fine Arts and Crafts)
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13. Zaimoku Nagashi (Wooden Plaque), Sanko-in Temple
Before the railway was built, lumber was transported by way of the Yasuda River and the Nahari River. The scene of the times is depicted in this wooden plaque.
Designated Tangible Cultural Property of Nahari Town (Fine Arts and Crafts)
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14. Forestry Tools: Umaji-mura Kyodokan (Folk Museum)
Saws, axes, and hatchets were essential tools for cutting, gathering, and transporting lumber in a time when forestry was done by hand. The Tosa saw was known for its quality, and its reputation spread throughout Japan.
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15. Konrin-ji Temple, Yakushi-do Hall
Konrin-ji Temple is said to have been established by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) and was built using Yanase lumber, which has been known for its quality since old times. Legend has it that Yakushi-do Hall was built overnight.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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16. Kitadera Temple Buddhist Statues
To build temples, Kukai transported lumber down the Yasuda River. It is said that the Buddhist statues were built from lumber that washed up on the riverbanks, and that very location became the site of Kitadera Temple.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Sculptures)
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17. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Eya Tunnel
This stone tunnel which curves gently along the river bend was built by digging into a bedrock overhang. The tunnels built in 1911 (Meiji period) were numbered in order starting from downstream, and this tunnel has the number "1" carved into it, which proves its history.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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18. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Banda-jima Tunnel
Built in 1911, the walls of this stone tunnel located along the Yuzu Road were built with cut sandstone using dry masonry.
This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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19. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Oomukae Tunnel
Built in 1911, the walls of this stone tunnel located along the Yuzu Road were built with cut sandstone using dry masonry.
This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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20. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Myojinguchi Bridge
Originally constructed with cypress during the Taisho period to span the Yasuda River, this bridge was later replaced with a steel truss bridge in the Showa period with the advent of the locomotive. Although the railroad track has been removed, the truss bridge and abutment still remain in their original forms.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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21. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Kamagatani Arch
Built in 1927, this stone arch bridge still remains on the Yuzu Road. This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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22. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Kamagatani Bridge
Built in 1926, this is a single-track deck truss steel bridge along the Yuzu Road that passes over the Kamaga-tani stream, which branches off of the Yasuda River. This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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23. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Hirase Tunnel
Built in 1911, the walls of this stone tunnel located along the Yuzu Road were built with cut sandstone using dry masonry.
This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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24. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Gomi Tunnel
This stone tunnel is located along the Yasuda River in a place considered to be the entrance to Umaji Village. It was built in 1911 (Meiji period) with the opening of the Yasuda River line. The tunnel was filled in with dirt to allow a roadway to pass over it, but the arched entrance and approximately 5.5 meters of the tunnel still remain on the upstream side of the river.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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25. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Ochiai-bashi Bridge
Built in 1925, this is a single-track steel girder bridge that passes over the Yasuda River along the Yuzu Road. One of the remnants of the forest railway, it once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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26. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Koguchi-zuido Tunnel
Built in 1915, the walls of this stone tunnel located along the Yuzu Road were built with cut sandstone using dry masonry. One of the remnants of the forest railway, it once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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27. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Inubo Bridge
Built in 1924, this is a single-track deck truss steel bridge along the Yuzu Road that passes over the Inubo-dani River, which branches off of the main Nahari River. This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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28. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Inotani Bridge
Built in 1924, this is a single-track deck truss steel bridge along the Yuzu Road that passes over the Sasagase River, which branches off of the main Nahari River. This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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29. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Horigao Bridge
Adjacent to the Horigao tunnel, this plain concrete closed-spandrel, single-arch bridge crosses over the Nahari River. It was one of the largest in Japan when it was constructed in 1941 (Showa period). The bridge features a waiting area on each side, with a trapezoidal balcony in the center, reminiscent of the olden days of the forest railway.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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30. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Futamata Bridge
Built in 1940 and located along the Yuzu Road, this is one of Japan's largest unreinforced concrete bridges. One of the remnants of the forest railway, it once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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31. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Koshima Bridge
This single-track steel truss bridge was built in 1932 (Showa period) to cross over the Nahari River. With a length of 143 meters (469 feet), this forest railway bridge is one of the largest in the Chugei Region. Being a combination of both a truss and girder bridge, its presence is impressive even from far away.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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32. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Tachioka No. 2 Bridge
This overpass heading from the Tachioka junction to the Nahari lumberyard is a stone viaduct and concrete girder bridge built in 1933. What remains now are the abutments in the river and along the bank and three piers that support the truss, but in the olden days, it was highly reputed for being built with the most advanced technology in the prefecture.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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33. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Hachimanyama Kosen Bridge
Built in 1940 and located along the Yuzu Road, this is one of Japan's largest unreinforced concrete bridges. This forest railway remnant once supported the lumber industry as well as the daily lives of the local people of the Chugei Region.
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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34. Former Yanase Forest Railway Structure: Hoonji Kosen Bridge
This stone arch bridge (overpass) on the north side of the old road is located west of the Nahari lumberyard and leads to Sanko-in Temple. The overpass, which is also the entrance to Sanko-in Temple, was built to allow the forest railway to pass through. It was built with the opening of the Tachioka to Nahari line in 1933 (Showa period).
Designated Important Cultural Property (Structures)
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35. Remnants from the Branch Lines
These old remains such as bridge piers, wooden bridges, and train tracks hint at the glory days of forestry. This area is used for exploration tours.
Remnants from the branch lines can be found scattered all around the Chugei Region. -
36. Former Umaji Village Forestry Agency Office
The building of the former Umaji Village Forestry Agency is still used today as the office of the Umaji Village Agricultural Cooperative, the driving force behind the growth of the yuzu industry.
The yuzu factory located in the vicinity offers tours year-round. -
37. Nomura Diesel Locomotive (Replica Display)
the Nomura Diesel locomotive played an important role in the mass transportation of wood during the Showa period. The Nomura L69 steam locomotive has been restored and is now displayed at Yanase Maruyama Park in Umaji Village. Train rides are available on Sundays and holidays.
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38. Terada Library
This rare photograph was taken by Tadashi Terada and shows the forest railway in operation (property of the Kochi Municipal Library)
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39. Taisho to early Showa period forestry photos preserved by the Shikoku Forestry Administration Bureau
This collection of rare photos depicts the forest railway during its early establishment years.
It is recognized as a Forestry Heritage by the Japanese Forest Society. -
40. Oka Goten Palace
The Oka family, wealthy merchants of early modern Japan, who were known to be one of Tano's five most powerful merchants, built the palace in 1844 as an accommodation for the clan lord. On display are materials related to the Oka Family, who made a name for themselves in the lumber and cargo businesses and had strong ties with the Tosa Clan for procuring taxes.
T2147-1 Tano-cho, Aki-gun, Kochi-ken
TEL.0887-38-3385 -
41. Hamakawa Family Residence Brewery / Storehouse
This sake brewery is built with water-draining tiles.
It is known for producing Kochi's leading sake, including yuzu sake.Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures)
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42. Minami Shoten Store Main Building Outer and Inner Wall
This is one of the key buildings of the oceanside town of Yasuda in the Chugei Region which flourished during the prosperous foresting period. It features Tosa plaster and water-draining roof tiles.
Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures)
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43. Former Kashiwabara Family Residence: Main Building, Annex, East Mud Wall, West Mud Wall
This Japanese-style building uses superior local timber emblematic of the prosperous foresting era. The mud wall is finished in Tosa plaster.
It is open to the public and the Japanese-style room can be rented for meetings and various events.Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures)
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44. Former Ichikawa Hospital
The ceiling boards and other areas are built with local timber, which is hard to come by in recent times. Today, the building is used as a display space, often displaying materials related to local history.
Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures)
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45. Takezaki Family Residence (Takada-ya) Main Building / Annex / Storehouse
The main house of the Takezaki family residence is an example of a mercantile building.
The storehouse features Tosa plaster walls and water-draining tiles, which were characteristic of the earthen storehouses of the time.
It is one of the key historical buildings of Nahari, a town that thrived off of the forestry and shipping industries. The storehouse is used today as a local history gallery.Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures)
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46. Mori Family Residence (Former Mokuma Nomura Residence) Main Building / Storehouse / West Stone Wall / South Stone Wall / East Stone Wall
This is the residence of Mokuma Nomura, known as Tosa's king of transportation.
Tosa plaster walls and water-draining tiles can be seen on the main building and storehouse. The west, south, and east walls are ishiguro stone.
It is one of the key buildings of Nahari, a town that thrived off of the forestry and shipping industries.Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures)
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47. Norihiro Hamada Family Residence Main Building / Rice Sile / Storehouse / Stone Wall
At the height of the forestry industry, Nahari was the main exporter of timber to the Kansai Region. The success of the wealthy merchants can still be seen around the town.
The Tosa plaster that can be seen on the storehouse of the Norihiro Hamada family residence building is characteristic of the period.Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structures)
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48. Hoshi Shrine Archery Festival
12 purified archers from the village are chosen to shoot their arrows in this celebration to pray for abundant crops. The meal served after the Shinto ritual includes yuzu sushi and other dishes made with plenty of yuzu.
Protected Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kochi Prefecture
