Sarugaishi River

Sarugaishi River
The Sarugaishi in Tōno in spring
Show map of Iwate Prefecture Show map of Japan Location of the mouth in Japan
Native name	猿ヶ石川
Country	Japan
Basin features
Main source	Mt. Yakushi, Tōno, Iwate 1,645 m (5,397 ft)
River mouth	Hanamaki, Iwate Kitakami River 39°23′55″N 141°07′59″E / 39.39861°N 141.13306°E / 39.39861; 141.13306Coordinates: 39°23′55″N 141°07′59″E / 39.39861°N 141.13306°E / 39.39861; 141.13306
Basin size	952 km² (368 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	73.1 km (45.4 mi)

The Sarugaishi River (猿ヶ石川, Sarugaishi-gawa) is a river in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

The Sarugaishi River rises in the Kitakami Mountains just south of Mt. Yakushi in Tōno and empties into the Kitakami River in Hanamaki. The Tase Dam is situated on the Sarugaishi River, in eastern Hanamaki in the former town of Tōwa. This dam was completed in 1953. There is a legend that the entire floodplain of the river in Tōno was once a large lake dammed by the hills in Miyamori.

Course

The Sarugaishi and Hayase Rivers

From its headwaters in Hayachine Quasi-National Park near Mt. Yakushi the Sarugaishi River flows directly south through the Tsukimoushi section of the city of Tōno. In Matsuzaki the river makes a slow and gentle bend to the west and flows west-southwest through Ayaori. In Miyamori the Sarugaishi encounters large hills that force the river into a steep and winding canyon which continues into Hanamaki where the Tase Dam impounds the water.

Lake Tase bends back to the north with the outflow of the dam directed eastward. The river then bends back around to flow west-northwest to Towa then winds in a series of loops generally westward before turning directly north and entering the Kitakami River opposite the mouth of the Segawa and just to the north of the Igirisu Coast of the Kitakami.

Tributaries

Late afternoon fishermen on the Sarugaishi in Miyamori

The Doku-gawa and the Tozenji-gawa join the Sarugaishi in Tsukimoushi.

The Kogarase-gawa is a large tributary that forms near Tachimaru Pass and joins the Sarugaishi in Matsuzaki. Japan National Route 340 follows along this scenic river for most of its length.

The Hayase begins in the region of Sennin Pass and empties into the Sarugaishi in downtown Tōno as the largest tributary. Japan National Route 283 parallels the course of this river and provides spectacular views, especially in the higher elevations.

The Rainai forms just north of Warabi Pass and empties into the Sarugaishi River near the mouth of the Hayase. The Rainai is dammed in two places for Tono's drinking water supply.

The Yamaya forms in the area of Ko Pass. Japan National Route 396 follows the course of the river for about half of its length.

The Miyamori enters just north of Tase Dam.

River systems and rivers of Japan

Rivers of Hokkaido

Sea of Japan	Ishikari River Chitose River Toyohira River Makomanai River Anano River Yūbari River Koetoi River Rumoi River Shiribeshi-Toshibetsu River Shiribetsu River Teshio River Zenibako River
Sea of Okhotsk	Abashiri River Shibetsu River Shokotsu River Tokoro River Yūbetsu River
Pacific Ocean	Akan River Kushiro River Mitsuishi River Mu River Niikappu River Saru River Shizunai River Tokachi River
Rivers of Hokkaido on Commons

Rivers of Honshu

Tōhoku region	Abukuma River Arakawa River Iwaki River Kitakami River Komagome River Mabechi River Mogami River Natori River Ohata River Oirase River Omono River Shozu River Yoneshiro River
Kantō region	Arakawa River Edo River Fuji River Kanda River Kuji River Naka River Sagami River Sumida River Tama River Tone River Tsurumi River
Chūbu region	Agano River Shinano River Seki River Hime River Kurobe River Jōganji River Jinzū River Shō River Oyabe River Tedori River Kuzuryū River Fuji River Abe River Ōi River Sakawa River Tenryū River Toyo River Yahagi River Shōnai River Kiso Three Rivers Kiso River Nagara River Ibi River Kushida River Miya River
Kansai region	Ibo River Kako River Ki-no River Kita River Kumano River Kuzuryu River Maruyama River Muko River Yamato River Yodo River Yasu River Katsura River Kamo River Kizu River Dōton River Yura River
Chūgoku region	Asahi River Ashida River Hino River Hii River Ōta River Ose River Saba River Sendai River Takahashi River Takatsu River Tenjin River Yoshii River
Rivers of Honshu on Commons

Rivers of Shikoku

Aibiki River Shimanto River Shinmachi River Suketō River Tamiya River Sako River Sumiyoshijima River Yoshino River Dōzan River
Rivers of Shikoku on Commons

Rivers of Kyushu

Kyushu	Arie River Chikugo River Mimi River Ōno River Ōyodo River
Yaeyama Islands	Kokuba River Nakama River Urauchi River
Rivers of Kyushu on Commons

Rivers of Japan Category
Rivers of Japan on Commons

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