Yurihonjō

Yurihonjo was formed by a merger of several towns, yet those towns are still largely oriented around themselves. And since Yurihonjo is very large, in terms of area, people living in the SE may know nothing about people living in the NW, for example. Honjo (本荘) is in the west of Yurihonjo. To the south of Honjo is Nishime (西目). To the north of Honjo are Matsugasaki (松ヶ崎), Kameda (亀田), and Iwaki (岩城). Ouchi (大内) is NE of Honjo. Higashi Yuri (東由利) is east of Honjo. In the SE are Yuri (由利), Yashima (矢島), and Chokai (鳥海). Chokai is composed of three villages, Kawauchi (川内), Hitane, (直根), and Jinego (笹子).

History:

Honjo, located at the heart of Yurihonjo, is a city surrounded by hills ("Dewa-kyuryo"), plateaus ("Yuri-hara") and the sea. It is believed that the area of Honjo was under the sea about 1,000,000 years ago and that its higher zones started gradually emerging some 500,000 years later. By 3000 B.C., some large villages had been formed at the foot of the Dewa-kyuryo.

The name Yuri appeared for the first time in "Azumakagami", a book written around 1200. The Yuri clan was a powerful family who governed Nikaho, Yashima, Koyoshi and other neighboring districts. Their territories, however, were confiscated by the government in 1213, and for the following 400 years up to 12 clans ruled over the area together. In the early 17th century, the area was disputed between the government and the local clans. It finally became the property of the Rokugo clan from Ibaraki in 1623 and remained so for about 250 years.

There once was a castle in Honjo, located on the site of today's Honjo Park. As a matter of fact, the old way of writing Honjo, 本城, means "main castle". However this castle can no longer be seen as it was burnt down in 1868 by the members of the Rokugo clan themselves at the end of their reign.

Depending where you're going, a car is probably your best bet.

By car:

Within Akita, cars are the most convenient way to get around. Highway 7 connects Honjo with Akita to the north, by way of Iwaki, and Nikaho to the south, by way of Nishime. Highway 105 connects Honjo to Daisen in the NE, by way of Ouchi. Highway 107 connects Honjo to Ugo and Yokote in the east, by way of Higashi Yuri. Highway 108 connects Honjo to Yuzawa in the SE, by way of Yuri, Yashima and Chokai. There are several small highways through the mountains, but some of them are seasonal or are closed for long-term repairs, so ask someone locally and check. In the winter, the roads can be snowy and icy, and the mountain areas — Chokai, for example — get tons of snow.

By train:

From Ugohonjo Station in Honjo, the Akebono night train goes direct to Tokyo, and the Nihonkai night train goes direct to Kyoto. The nearest shinkansen stations are the Komachi Shinkansen in Akita or Omagari, and the Tsubasa Shinkansen in Shinjo, northern Yamagata. Both of these shinkansen lines go to Tokyo. There are many daily trains going north and south out of Honjo. There is also a private train line that goes from Ugohonjo Station to Yashima, by way of Yuri.

1 Ugohonjo Station (羽後本荘駅 Ugohonjō-eki), Nishibonten 85-1, ☏ +81 184-22-0221. The main train station in Yurihonjo.

2 Yashima Station (矢島駅 Yashima-eki), Hazaka, Nanokamachi, Yashima (2 blocks SW of the Yashima Police Station, and well-signed), ☏ +81 184 56-2036. 05:30-21:10. The terminus of the Yuri Kogen Railway. This station has a large sitting area and a computer with free internet.

Yuri Kogen Railway (由利高原鉄道 Yurikōgen tetsudō), Hazaka 21-2, Nanokamachi, Yashima, ☏ +81 184 56-2736, fax: +81 184 56-2850, info@obako5.com. This railway runs from Ugohonjo Station to Yashima by way of Yuri. Trains leave around once an hour; see the website for the schedule.

By bus: