To celebrate the Teramachi Konpira Festival and Omachi Gion Festival, the Gyofu Souma House will be open for free until 9 p.m. on July 19!

The staff will be serving free cold Batabata Tea, the perfect drink for a hot summer's evening! Make sure to stop by!

Gyofu Souma was a famous scholar and poet from Itoigawa. He contributed significantly to early study about Itoigawa and its history, including research which eventually led to the rediscovery of Itoigawa's jade in 1938!

◆Time
July 19 (Fri) 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
◆Place
Gyofu Souma House (2-10-1 Omachi, Itoigawa)
◆Other
・To celebrate the new Era, there will be a special exhibit about Gyofu Souma and Takeo Owada, Empress Masako's grandfather.
・Free cold batabata tea will be served.
◆Contact
Cultural Promotion Division ☏025-552-1511

The snow is beginning to melt in the mountains of the Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark,replaced with lush greenery!

The following mountains will have their opening ceremony and official first hike of the season in the coming months. Please contact us at [email protected] or message us on Facebook for more information!

・Mt. Komagatake／June 2 (Sun)
・Mt. Myojo／June 9 (Sun)
・Mt. Hokogatake／July 7 (Sun)
・Mt. Amakazari／July 7 (Sun)

※Please confirm in advance because schedules might change. Mountaineering is a sport that comes with risks, so please understand the dangers and hike safely!

Enjoy hiking at Mt. Shindō, famous for the legend of Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and Princess Nunakawa. After the hike, soak in the restorative hot spring waters of Choja Onsen!

◆Time: Sunday, May 26 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
※Meet at Mt.Shindō Lodge at 9:00 a.m.
◆Guide: Masa Tonegawa and Hisaei Maruyama (Mt. Shindo Satoyama Club)
◆Sign-up: Until Thursday, May 23 ※Limit 20
◆Fee: 1,000 yen (Includes lunch and hot spring entry)
Note: Hiking tour is provided in the Japanese language. Please contact us regarding English-speaking guide availability.

◆For more information, mail us at [email protected]

Visit Maseguchi Hot Springs in the Gongendake Geosite to join in the Maseguchi Onsen Kamakura Festival on Sunday, Feb 24!

Enjoy amazake, pork soup, rice cakes and more in beautifully illuminated kamakura (Japanese snow houses). The amazake is free while supplies last!

□Time: Feb 24 (Sun) 17:00 - 20:00
□Place: Maseguchi Onsen Taigakuso Parking Lot
□Organizers: Maseguchi Onsen Cooperative