Ouchi Town

From Akita Wiki

Ouchi Town (大内町; ouchi machi) is a town located in Yurihonjo City, Akita, Japan.

1 History
2 Sightseeing & Activities
3 Facilities
4 Festivals
5 Restaurants
6 Shopping
7 Onsens
8 Schools
9 Board of Education
10 Famous People
11 ALTs
12 Getting There
13 External links

History

On 30^th September 1956 the Yuri district villages of Iwaya, Shimokawa Ouchi, and Kamikawa Ouchi all merged into Ouchi village.
On 1^st April 1970 the village of Ouchi gained town status.
On 22^nd March, 2005 Ouchi town merged with Honjo city, and the towns of Chokai, Higashi Yuri, Iwaki, Nishime, Yashima and Yuri to form Yurihonjo city.

Sightseeing & Activities

One Thousand Jizō (千体地蔵, sentai jizō)
One thousand stone statues line the side of a hill in Oriwatari, Ouchi. The statues were erected over a two year period from 1989 to 1990, and were intended as a prayer for peace. Access via R69.

Nagasaka Ski Area - (長坂スキー場, nagasaka suki jō)
A very small, one slope family ski jo. They have a 250m T-bar lift and lights, so night skiing is ok. This ski jo is located just off R105, very close to Ouchi JHS. Tel: 0184-66-2526

Ōgoya Family Land - (大小屋ファミリーランド, ōgoya famirii rando)
Facilities include a lodge, a campground, field athletics, and go-carts. Located on R49.
Tel: 0184-67-2313

Sports Facilities
A page listing the sports facilities available in Tsutsumidai, including swimming pool, tennis courts, kyudo and soccer.

Facilities

Tanpopo Hall, (たんぽぽ館, tanpopo kan).

Yurihonjo Gymnasium - (由利本荘市立総合体育館, yurihonjou shi ritsu sougou taiikukan). The largest gymnasium in Yurihonjo. Built in 2005, this gym cost a staggering ￥1,471,237,000 to build. It recently hosted the 9th Ladies Roller Hockey World Championship. Located by Poporokko. Yearly membership ￥8,000, one time use ￥500. Homepage. Tel: 0184-65-0500.
Tanpopo Hall - (たんぽぽ館, tanpopo kan). Facilities include: meeting room, bathroom, and shower. Located high in the hills behind Shimokawa Ouchi Nursery School. Costs about ¥6,500 for one night (No bedding, AC or heaters*; possibly can be rented). Available from May to October. 〒０１８－０８５５秋田県由利本荘市松本字蛇喰４ー１. Tel: 0184-66-2277

Festivals

List of all Yurihonjo festivals

Watawata Festival - ワタワタ
The newly married couples of Ouchi prepare straw and leave it in wodden bowls by their door. A group of townspeople visit these houses and pound the straw with wodden sticks while chanting 'watawata'. Takes place every January 15^th.

First Jizō Snow Shoe Visit - 初地蔵かんじき詣
Worship for the Jizo. Takes place at One Thousand Jizo on January 24^th

Nagasaka Inari Shrine Bonten Hono Festival (長坂稲荷神社梵天まつり)
Often just refered to as Bonten (梵天), this is a colourful festival where people pray for a good yeild of rice for the year to come. Takes place on the 2^nd Sunday of March every year.

Family Land Opens - ファミリーランドオープン
Family Land opens at the end of April.

Satsuki Festival - さつきまつり
Attend lectures on how to care for Azalea (satsuki) plants. Buy or view the many different Asaleas available. Takes place from 21^st May to the 1^st June every year.

Mizu Kake Jizō Festival - 水かけ地蔵まつり
People pour water on the Jizō's heads and pray for the health of children. Every July 23^rd and 24^th.

Imogawa Festival - 芋川まつり
A firework festival for the people of Ouchi to appreciate the Imogawa river. Also includes a dance competition. Takes place every year on the last Sunday of July, from 20:00 to 21:00. Located by the bridge where R105 meets the R9, beside the rice factory.

Akita Mago Uta Zenkoku Taikai - 秋田馬子唄全国大会
A national minyo (folk) singing competition. All participants (over 100) sing the song Akita Mago Uta. Takes place at Ouchi BoE every September.

Shinzawa Festival - 新沢まつり
Watch actors recreate scenes from past feudal lords. Takes place every September 15^th.

Choumin Festival - 町民祭
Literally translated as the town people's festival. The people of Ouchi display their farming products and provide people with the opportunity to sample a variety of locally grown and produced products. Includes a tororo eating competition! Takes place from October 21^st to November 1^st every year.

Restaurants

Poporotei - ぽぽろ亭
A restaurant located beside Poporokko in Ouchi town. Serves ramen, soba, and various other dished. Tel: 0184-65-3477.　
Dewa Shokudō - 出羽食堂
A similar style restaurant to Poporotei, located on the east side of the train station. Tel: 0184-65-3022.
Matsusushi - 松寿し
Sushi restaurant open from 17:00 to 22:30, closed holidays and Wednesdays. Address: 岩谷町字堤下176-7, located near the BoE. Tel: 0184-65-2883.
Fukuzushi - 福寿し
Sushi restaurant open from 17:00 to 23:00, closed on Sundays. Address: 岩谷町字日渡152-1, located near the Daily. Tel: 0184-65-3249.
Itokin Shokudō - いときん食堂
Open from 11:00 to 21:00. Address: 中田代字板井沢236-5, located near where R105 meets R29. Tel: 0184-67-2108.
Takahashi Shokudō - 高橋食堂
Open from 11:00 to 21:00. Address: 中田代字本板井沢46-2, located close to Itokin Shokudō. Tel: 0184-67-2307.
Hanten Tonhairin - 飯店とんはいりん
Open from 11:00 to 22:00. Address: 葛岡字町妻川原99. Tel: 0184-66-2633.
Shogetsuen - 松月園
Open from 17:00 to 23:00. Address: 岩谷町字川端76-2. Tel: 0184-65-2873.
Soba Udon Kame - そばうどん亀
Open from 11:00 to 19:00. Address: 大内三川字三川35, located beside is Komeri. Tel: 0184-65-3289.
Soba Udon Kame - そばうどん亀
Open from 9:00 to 18:00. Located at Poporokko. Tel: 0184-62-0401.

Shopping

Himawari (ひまわり). Located in Poporokko in Ouchi town. This shop stocks local foodstuffs including fresh fruit, vegetable, and rice. The prices are very reasonable.

Onsens

Poporokko Onsen (ぽぽろっこ温泉)
Located in Ouchi town. Opening hours are 10:00 to 21:00 Tel： 0184-62-1126

Kasumi Onsen (かすみ温泉)
Located on a back road, south of Ouchi JHS. Opening hours are 8:30 to 20:30. Tel： 0184-66-2418

Taki Onsen (滝温泉)
This onsen is supposed to help with minor pains and muscle injuries. Some suffers stay here long term. It is located on R284, way down south in Ouchi, close to Higashiyuri. Opening hours are from 9:00 to 17:00. Tel: 0184-67-2221

Kohabiro Kan (小羽広館)
This bath here opened in November 2002. It is a sulphur onsen. Located on R29, south of Kamikawa Elementary school. Opening hours are 8:30 to 16:30. Tel: 0184-67-2542

Kantokan Onsen (感湯館温泉)
This onsen was located behind Shimokawa Elementary School, it closed down a few years ago, even though it is still listed on Google Maps.

Schools

There are two Junior High Schools and three Elementary schools in Ouchi.

Junior High School

Dewa Junior High School (出羽中学校)
The largest JHS in Ouchi. This school is located in the centre of Ouchi town. There are currently 131 students attending (2010).

Ouchi Junior High School (大内中学校)
This smaller school is located east of Ouchi town along the R105. There are currently 111 students attending (2010).

Elementary School

Iwaya Elementary School (岩谷小学校)
The largest of the elementary schools, Iwaya ES is also located in the centre of Ouchi town. There are currently 192 students attending (2010).

Shimokawa Ouchi Elementary School (下川大内小学校)
The next largest ES is located between Dewa JHS and Ouchi JHS, it can be seen from the R105. There are currently 108 students attending (2010).

Kamikawa Ouchi Elementary School (上川大内小学校)
The smallest and most remote of all Ouchi schools. It's located about 2km down the R29, off the R105. There are currently 71 students attending (2010).

Nursery School

Iwaya Nursery School (岩谷保育園)
Shimokawa Ouchi Nursery School (下川大内保育園)
Kamikawa Ouchi Nursery School (上川大内保育園)

Board of Education

Yurihonjo City Board of Education Ouchi Branch Office	由利本荘市教育委員会大内教育学習課

Japan 〒018-0711 Akita ken Yurihonjo shi Iwaya machi Aza Hiwatashi 100 Ouchi Hoken Center	日本〒018-0711 秋田県由利本荘市岩谷町字日渡100 大内保健センター


Tel:	0184-65-2809
Fax:	0184-65-2841

Famous People

Mika Yamauchi (山内美加)
A former volleyball player, who was a member of the Japan Women's National Team, between 1992 and 1996.

Itō Hideshi (伊藤秀志)
A singer from the early eighties, who has released albums regularly since then.

ALTs

The Ouchi ALT visits all 5 schools.

Year	ALT	From
2007-present	Owen Cunningham	Kilkenny, Ireland
2004-2007	Peter Hoover	Ohio, USA
2002-2004	Douglas MacLean	Nevada, USA

2002 was the first year that Ouchi town got its first exclusive ALT. It was then the ALT also started visiting elementary schools. Before this, the ALT who visited Dewa JHS and Ouchi JHS also visited Nishime JHS.

Year	ALT	From
2001-2002	Frances Scrutton	Scotland
?-2001	David Doolin	Ireland

Getting There

The main road through Ouchi town is R105. Since late 2007 Ouchi can also be accessed by the new Expressway (IC) between Akita City and Nikaho.
Ugo-Iwaya Station(羽後岩谷駅, Ugo-Iwaya eki) is on the Uetsu Main Line of JR East railway system. The station is located by Poporokko.