Ishidatami – A Hidden Gem
A Beautiful Satoyama
Ishidatami is a scenic and tranquil area winding through a hidden district that rests between the town of Uchiko and Iyo city. The seasonal trappings throughout these mountains and rice fields evoke feelings of rural childhood nostalgia in the hearts of the Japanese people, offering a revitalizing and healing element to these beautiful sights. The protection of Ishidatami’s long-held traditions and valuable history inspires residents to work hard to preserve these cultural sites for the benefit of all, and their goal is to give visitors the feeling of returning home.
You may choose to enjoy the simple beauty of Yuge Shrine (created around the 14th century) with its iconic covered bridge reflected in the bright water below, or you may wish to take a tour of the best hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) spots such as the awe-inspiring Weeping Cherry Tree. However you explore this area, you are sure to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Another of Ishidatami’s notable features are the remnants of a unique past - as you journey through the country roads of the village, you can sometimes spy old water mills. These are a rare sight in general in Japan, but this area used to have over 30 of these active mills here, but many have fallen into disrepair around the 1950s. More recently local volunteers have opted to rebuild and maintain three of these mills, and occasionally use them to mill rice flour in the old ways. If you wish to see the mills yourself you can visit the Ishidatami Seiryuen Park and watch the water churn around the wheel or enter the shed to see the rice being processed, or even just enjoy the various walking paths and places to sit, all nestled among the colorful scenery.
