Shitomae, Naruko Onsen, Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture
Rating
Cost per person
¥500
Explore the historical Shitomae-no-Seki Remains, a former checkpoint on the Uzen Road leading to Yamagata. See the remnants of stone walls and a monument to the famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho, commemorating his visit with the verse "Fleas, lice, a horse pissing near my pillow." Located in Naruko Onsen, Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, it's a 20-minute walk from Naruko-Onsen Station on the JR Rikuu East Line or a 40-minute drive from the Furukawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Note that the actual checkpoint is down a steep set of stairs. The site includes a statue of Basho and an interpretive diagram of the checkpoint. Best visited during daylight hours to appreciate the historical context and natural surroundings.
Cultural Property: Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property. Architectural Period: Edo Period. Designated: H2