"Futagawa, Toyohashi" Futagawa by taigaa001

Iwaya Ryokuchi Park is a natural park about 20 ha in area. The park includes two hill peaks, Okurayama about 100 meters in elevation and has an observation tower the other peak is craggy and has a kannon statue rebuilt in 1950. The area used to be sparse pine woods just as Hiroshige described in his woodblock painting work FUTAGAWA. But now fewer people cut woods for coal so now it is now a densely grown forest.

Bordering Mountains and Imo Bog

The mountain area dividing Aichi and Shizuoka prefecture is called differently from Aichi and Shizuoka. From Shizuoka these mountain areas are called Kosai Alps while Toyohashi residents call them Yumihari mountains. The mountains is as high as 250-450 meters in elevation but has some interesting land formations.

Shinjohara, Shirasuka and Omotehama Beach

Shinjohara area is best known by Tateiwa a bluff made up of chert and popular for rock climbing. It seems that Tateiwa is climbable even without rock-climbing skill. I would like to find out if it is true. Shirasuka is the westernmost part of Shizuoka prefecture known as the thirty-second post station of Tokaido.
The blog about Omotehama Beach
Omotehama Network
The blog by an organization to preserve the beach ecosystem where loggerheads land for laying eggs.

Futagawa Fushimi Inari Shrine

Next Futagawa visit: December 1, Futagawa-juku area and Iwaya Guanyin(Kannon).

Futagawa is a growing suburban residential area east of downtown Toyohashi, Aichi but it used to be the lodging station(#33) of Tokaido highway until about 150 years ago. Today, however, most of the people getting off from JR Futagawa station head for the amusement park, nicknamed as Non-Hoi Park. To find out about Non-Hoi Park also see my Toyohashi page. On this page I will focus more about historical sites around Tokaido highway, Yumibari mountains bordering mountain areas between Aichi and Shizuoka Prefecture.
Also I will cover Shinjohara area and #32 stop Shirasuka which is yet to be listed as a destination in VT database.

Webpages and Videos about Futagawa, Toyohashi.
**General Info
Visitor Information: Tourist Areas
Map of Toyohashi
USA Today: Tourism of Toyohashi, Japan

**Non Hoi Park (Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park)
Jardim Zoologica em Futagawa(Toyohashi) (in Portuguese)
ZOO DE TOYOHASHI NOS NA RODA GIGANTE2(in Portuguese)
Polar Bear(Zoo and Botanical Garden, Toyohashi)

Model Futagawa and Toyohashi (and Toyokawa)Tour Plans
Many tourists complain that Toyohashi does not have so much places to visit. Well, if you also include Futagawa and Toyokawa I guess you will have an enjoyable trip. Here are some of the recommended tour routes around Toyohashi and Toyokawa.
Also see Toyokawa transportation


A: Nagoya...Toyokawa Inari...Non-Hoi Park...Nagoya. Typical course based in Nagoya.
B: Hamamatsu...Futagawa...Non Hoi Park...Toyohashi...Toyokawa Inari...Hamamatsu. Typical course based in Hamamatsu.

The rest are less common routes which starts from Futagawa station.
C: Futagawa station...Futagawa-juku Honjin Museum...station...Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Garden(Non Hoi Park)...Doable from Spring and Summer but not recommended during winter when the sunshine duration for a day is short....
D: Futagawa station...Non Hoi Park...Futagawa station...Toyohashi station...Toyohashi Park and Yoshida Castle...maybe most popular Toyohashi tour course and typical family tour
E: Tracing Tokaido: Futagawa Station...Futagawa Honjin Museum...Iwaya Kannon...Mukaiyama Ryokuchi Park...Toyohashi Park and Yoshida Castle...for historical fans...
F: Futagawa Honjin Museum...Toyohashi station...Toyohashi Park...Toyohashi station...Toyokawa station..Toyokawa Inari...For historical buff...But doable from Nagoya I guess.
G: Non Hoi Park...Toyohashi Park and Yoshida Castle...Toyokawa Inari...For tourist spot conquerors!...Maybe doable from Nagoya or Hamamatsu.

Former Futagawa Pillbox in Oiwa

Futagawa still has a lot to explore. In Oiwa area there is an abolished pillbox used during the second world war. It is called Futagawa Tochka(Tochka derived from Russian word for pillbox). Unless being informed few people may have little idea what it is. Children used to play inside the former pillbox. Today the entry to the pillbox is prohibited.