Ogawa
Ogawa Town, Home Town of Washi – Japanese Traditional Handmade Paper
Ogawa is surrounded by abundant nature and hemmed in by the Sotochichibu Mountains with the fresh Tsuki River running through the middle of the town. The town is often called “Little Kyoto of Musashi” as it has various traditional industries including sake breweries, tategu (furniture fittings), ura-ginu (a special woven silk that is used as the lining of kimono) and Ogawa Washi (Japanese paper) which has been passed down for over 1,300 years. Historic sites with their own unique stories and traditional buildings create a nostalgic atmosphere. In the suburbs, visitors can experience making traditional paper at the Saitama Craft Center. In late March, Katakuri (Japanese dogteeth violets) flowers bloom at the foot of Mt. Sengen, reminding people of the coming of spring.
Sightseeing Highlights in Ogawa
Mt. Sengen Miharashi-no Oka Park
The park is located in the middle of Mt. Sengen and was designed so as to take advantage of its natural surroundings thus enabling visitors to fully enjoy the changing seasons. The roller slide is the park’s most popular play equipment and at 203 meters in length allows riders, both children and adults, to overlook the Ogawa town’s panoramic view while sliding down. Everybody can have a great time at the Wanpaku area with its play equipment and observation deck.
Ogawa Town Washi Experience Center
This center offers visitors an in-depth washi making class. Centered on the handmade paper making process, there is a one-day class covering the major stages of the washi making process step by step; also, a fully comprehensive four-day class begins with the process of readying materials.
Ogawa Onsen Hot Spring Kawara-no Yu
The water of this hot spring is strongly alkaline (Ph10.0). It is also called “Water of Beauty.” There are a variety of baths available such as open-air, lying bath, bedrock bath as well as meals cooked with local ingredients.
Yoshida Family Residence
The year of completion of this residence is 1721. It is the oldest residential house in the town with the clear evidence of the time it was built, and is designated as an Important Cultural Property. Visitors can sit around the hearth, grill rice dumplings, and enjoy a relaxing time in the house.
A 10-min. walk from Takezawa Station on JR Hachiko Line
About a 15-min. drive from Ranzan Ogawa I.C.
Important Annual Events in Ogawa
Ogawa Town Tanabata Festival
This major festival of Ogawa Town has continued annually since 1949. The procession is composed of old historic floats, Ogawa festival music and Tanabata dance, and it passes under the grand bamboo decorations made with local washi, the biggest of their kind in the Kita Kanto area. At night, an approximately 2,000 fireworks show will be held to beautifully decorate the summer night sky.
Ogawa Washi Marathon Race
This marathon race consists of several categories from elementary school students to adults, and many runners gather from all over Japan to have a great time together running through Ogawa Town in December.
Traditional Crafts of Ogawa
Ogawa Washi
The most renowned craft of Ogawa Town is handmade Ogawa Washi. Among these Washi, especially “Hosokawa paper,” made using only the fibers of the paper mulberry plant, is designated as an important cultural property. Ogawa Washi has been preserved for over 1,300 years and possesses a delicate beauty mixed with warmth and kindness, as well as a toughness to endure over a long period.
“Hosokawa Paper” Listed as the UNESCO's Cultural Heritage
In November 2014, the technique of making Hosokawa Paper, which has been passed down in Ogawa Town, was enlisted as the “Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese handmade paper,” along with Sekishu Banshi paper (Shimane Prefecture) and Hon Mino paper (Gifu Prefecture).
Tategu (Japanese Mounting Furniture)
Ogawa Town’s mounting furniture production has developed using local Nishiyama wood. Among them, especially the Shoji paper sliding door with its doctored frame is highly praised along with its woody aroma and beautiful grain, made by skilled artisans.
Food & Specialties of Ogawa
Chushichi-meshi Rice
Chushichi-meshi is one of the top five best rice recipes of Japan and was invented by the 8th generation of the shop whose name was Chushichi Yagi. The story of its origin recounts that Tesshu Yamaoka, a popular historical figure from the Meiji period, told Chushichi to incorporate a Zen essence into the cuisine; hence, it took a while for Chushichi to complete this special rice recipe. The rice inherited the “flavor and pure lightness,” the spirit of a Japanese dish, when Chushichi gained inspiration from the three ways Tesshu had mastered – Sword, Zen, Calligraphy.”
Sake
Ogawa Town is well known as a great sake brewing district, also known as Kanto Nada from ancient times, as it is blessed with the appropriate surrounding nature and pure spring water coming from Chichibu Mountains. Currently, there are three sake brewing companies: Matsuoka Jozo, Musashitsuru Shuzo and Seiun Shuzo, competing with each other to make the best sake.
Norabona Leaf Vegetable
Norabona belongs to the brassica family and has a sweet taste and a good texture. Its nutritional value is very high and contains more than twice the amount of vitamin C of Komatsuna (a leafy green vegetable). In the middle of the Edo period, the head of Kanto Gundai (magistrate of the Kanto region) gave out Norabona seeds to farmers and encouraged its production. The traditional vegetable was said to have saved people from starvation during the Tenmei/Tempo famine (1782-1836).
Organic Vegetables
Organic farming in Ogawa Town is well-known throughout the country. No agricultural chemicals and fertilizers are used from preparing for the soil. Harvested vegetables are safe for our health and tasty, of course. Vegetables are available at the farmer’s market in town.
Okara Doughnut
Okara is tofu leftovers. This long-established tofu shop produces the town’s popular sweet, “Okara Doughnut.” There are over 40 different flavors including doughnut of the day and a seasonal special. Try some and discover your favorite one.
- Access
- Ogawa-machi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line or JR Hachiko Line
- Contact
- Ogawa Town Promotion Section
- TEL：0493-72-1221 / FAX：0493-74-2920
- URL： http://www.town.ogawa.saitama.jp/