Story
One of Eight Scenes of Kiso Travelers of Kisoji have visited here and written many poems. Basho Matsuo was one of them. A monument to his haiku poetry reads, “I wish I could see you and take a nap on Mt. Tokonoyama (literally bed mountain).” It is known for its beautiful gorge with strange rock formations and the legend of Urashima Taro.
Overview
Agematsu Town is situated in an area of granite bedrock. The granite terrain cracked from the flow of the Kisogawa River and formed Nezamenotoko Gorge. The way the granite bedrock cracked resulted in a mysterious formation of rocks. It looks like an array of large boxes. Due to the drawing of water for hydroelectric power and irrigation, the water level of the Kisogawa River has lowered since the Meiji period (1868 - 1913), and the rocks have come to stick out more.
It was designated as a national scenic site in 1923, and it is now a special area of a prefectural park.
Points of Interest
The white face of the rocks and the emerald-green waters will capture your heart. The autumn color reflected on the surface of the river is breathtaking. Please enjoy the calm scenery from on top of the unusually-shaped rocks carved out over centuries.
You can also walk in the art park adjacent to Nezamenotoko.
Interview
Mr. Doso Miura, chief priest of Rinsenji Temple
We interviewed Mr. Doso Miura. He is the chief priest of Rinsenji Temple.
“There are things that are unclear, but some waka (Japanese poems) refer to the place as Nezamenotoko (bed of awakening), and other records indicate that this is where Urashima Taro woke up from his dream in which he went to the Dragon King’s Palace beneath the sea. That’s how it came to be called Nezamenotoko,” he said.
“In the early Edo period travel diary belonging to Takuan Osho (a Buddhist priest), a sentence reads, “This is the rock where Urashima Taro sat down to fish.” The rock named Koshikakeiwa (rock to sit on) still exists here, and that’s why the legend came to be that Urashima Taro woke up from his dream here.”
“Do you think the legend of Urashima Taro is true?”
“Yes, I do. One of my ancestors actually saw Urashima Taro. That’s why my family name is Miura (see Ura).” *laughs*
“Oh, so that’s why! You are proof of the legend, Mr. Miura.”
“Urashima-do (Urashima hall) stands on the grounds of the temple, and a Buddha figure is carved on the rock face under the hall. The figure of Buddha is rarely carved on a rock face instead of being made a statue. Please visit it and pray there. The legend has it that it is where he opened the treasure box and found himself to be an old man.
The book ‘Bampo Shinsho’ from the Edo period says Urashima Taro flew in the sky to come here. It says he flew using his ability to fly at will. The legend can’t be wrong.
Can you wait for a few minutes, please?”
Documents about Nezamenotoko Gorge
Documents about Nezamenotoko Gorge
Documents about Nezamenotoko Gorge
Documents about Nezamenotoko Gorge
“Once, a portion of the documents were burnt, and these are the ones that remain. There were times when the documents were sold to make a living.”
He showed us valuable old documents.
“Can you tell us about Nezamenotoko?”
“The mysterious rocks and emerald-green waters. People say that the air over the rocks is different and that it makes them feel cool and calm even in summer. The formation of the rocks is unusual and unique to this area.”
On the day we went, we could only take photos from a distance, so we borrowed photos from Mr. Miura.
Nezamenotoko Gorge from a distance
Urashima Taro woke up here
We heard from Mr. Doso Miura, the chief priest of Rinsenji Temple, who passes on the legend as he watches over the landscape from the closest place.
Attractions
The white face of the rocks and the emerald-green waters will capture your heart. The autumn color reflected on the surface of the river is breathtaking. Please enjoy the calm scenery from on top of the unusually-shaped rocks carved out over centuries.
You can also walk in the art park adjacent to Nezamenotoko.
Access
From the closest station & interchange
From Agematsu Station on the JR Chuo Line
5 minutes by bus
From the Ina Interchange on the Chuo Expressway
From the Ina Interchange on National road 361, 50 minutes by car
Address
Agematsu Town, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture
