Naruko, Miyagi
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Naruko (鳴子町; -chō) is a former town located in Tamatsukuri District, Miyagi, Japan.
On March 31, 2006, the city of Furukawa merged with the towns of Iwadeyama and Naruko from Tamatsukuri District and Kashimadai, Matsuyama and Sanbongi from Shida District and Tajiri from Toda District to create the new city of Ōsaki. Tamatsukuri District and Shida District were dissolved as a result of this merger.
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[edit] Geography
Nestled in the mountainous backbone of Tohoku, Naruko is located entirely within the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park. Haiku poet Matsuo Basho passed through the area on the trip that became his masterwork Oku no Hosomichi.
[edit] Tourism and Sightseeing
The volcanically active area is famous for the Naruko Hot Spring Villages (鳴子温泉郷), a cluster of five villages -- Naruko, East Naruko, Takayamadaira, Kawatabi and Onikōbe -- with abundant hot springs. The reputed curative properties of the springs make them especially popular with people in ill health. Several ski resorts also operate nearby in the winter.
Naruko is one among many places to claim to have originated the kokeshi, a cylindrical wooden doll emblematic of Tohoku. The Japan Kokeshi Museum is located in Naruko, and some 80 craftsmen work full-time at the art today.
[edit] Transport
Naruko is accessible by train on the JR East East Riku'u Line, some 40 minutes from Furukawa, an interchange station with the Tohoku Shinkansen. National Highways 47 and 108 also pass through the area.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 8,764 and a density of 26.76 persons per km². The total area was 327.55 km².
[edit] External link
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