area
About
Area
The Lives of People Blessed by the Otagawa River
The Otagawa River flows through the southern Kii Peninsula. Originating from Mount Nachi, it nourishes the surrounding areas before emptying into the Kumano Sea. Although its length is only about 24 kilometers, the river has long supported the forests, agriculture, and livelihoods of regions such as Irokawa, Ota, and Shimosato. It has also served as a source of drinking water. Blessed by the river, the people of these areas have built their lives around forestry, farming, and fishing, contributing to the region's development. Their history is also one of resilience—facing challenges such as climate change, population decline, and the influx of overseas timber. They have persevered, working together and utilizing the unique characteristics of their respective regions. Here, we share the stories of Irokawa, Ota, and Shimosato-Uragami, communities that continue to move forward together.
Ota
The original scenery of Japan
The Ota area has been a thriving rice
producer since ancient times.
Water flowing from the mountains flows gently across Ota's flat land, watering the fields. It is said that they were among the first to clear the land for cultivation at the end of the Meiji era, and by dividing the rice fields into cross sections and creating terraces every few centimeters, they created a gentle flow of water and allowed it to spread widely. Ota offers a glimpse of the history of local residents working together to avoid conflicts over water. The peaceful townscape gives you a warm feeling. Mt. Hachiro, which connects Ota and Tahara, Kushimoto Town, is a small mountain with an altitude of 250 meters, but it offers a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view from the top.
Shimosato
/Uragami
A seaside town with a rich history and culture
The Ota River, which flows down through the Irokawa and Ota districts, joins the Pacific Ocean here in the Shimozato district. It is said that the area around the river mouth once prospered as a gathering and distributing area for lumber from surrounding areas such as the Irokawa River, and flourished in the lumber industry, shipping, and fishing. In addition, there is a keyhole-shaped tumulus at the southernmost tip of Honshu that is said to have been built in the latter half of the 4th century, castle ruins, the Kinan Church of Christ in Japan, a nationally registered tangible cultural property designed by Isaku Nishimura, and registered as an intangible folk cultural property by the prefecture. It is also a land where you can feel the history and culture, such as the ``Takashiba Lion Dance''. There are supermarkets, convenience stores, a station, a fashionable general store, and a smoothie specialty store, making it an easy-to-live-in area that combines the simplicity and convenience of the countryside.
Irokawa
A beautiful mountain village
where people, nature,
and animals coexist
The Irokawa district is a quiet mountain village located approximately 40 minutes by car up a mountain road from the center of Nachikatsuura Town. It is located upstream of the Ota River and once flourished in forestry and mining. Currently, the people who live here make a living through their own activities, such as producing the famous ``Irokawa tea'' and slaughtering and producing ``game meat'' from wild animals such as deer and wild boars. You can feel the life together. Irokawa is also a rare area in Japan, where about half of the population are immigrants. Because it is a small village that cannot be called convenient, it has a deep-rooted culture of valuing connections and mutual support between people.
Access
Information