🗺️ The scenic spot of the Oka no Hosomichi: Soka Matsubara.国指定名勝「おくのほそ道の風景地　草加松原」

"Soka-juku" is the second of the 21 post towns along the Nikko Highway. Nearby is the beautiful Soka Matsubara, lined with a row of magnificent pine trees. This place also appears in the works of the haiku poet Matsuo Bashō from the early Edo period (1603-1715), specifically in his piece "Oku no Hosomichi." In March 2014, it was recognized as one of the scenic spots related to Matsuo Bashō's "Oku no Hosomichi." It was evaluated for its "profound influence on the landscape perspective of future generations, presenting a series of scenic views that still reflect the atmosphere of the past," and thus designated as a national scenic spot. The two pairs of drum-shaped pedestrian bridges, "Hyakudai Bridge" and "Yatate Bridge," stand as if they have leaped out from a ukiyo-e into the real world. The scenery still exudes the atmosphere of the "Oku no Hosomichi" era. Every early summer, the "Soka Asagao Market," known as a summer tradition of Soka, is held here, and since 2015, the nighttime illumination of the pines, "Soka Matsuen Yume no Matsuri," has been celebrated. A walkway approximately 1.5 kilometers long has been laid out along the banks of the Ayase River, providing a place for visiting tourists to relax.

Nationally designated scenic spots related to "The Narrow Road to the Deep North." The 634 pine trees allow one to leisurely immerse in history. The "Hyakudai Bridge" and "Yatate Bridge" along the Ayase River beside the pines are not to be missed. The "Soka Matsubara Yume no Matsuri," where you can enjoy the nighttime illumination of the pines, is held here. The summer tradition "Soka Asagao Market" is also held in this area.