Manyo Park

Manyo Park is a park located in the center of the hot spring resort area, where many plants and flowers from the “Manyoshu” (The Anthology of Myriad Leaves) are planted.

This park has been selected as one of the “100 Best Historical Parks in Japan. It was created on a 20,000-square-meter site that stretches to the west of the Ochiai Bridge, allowing visitors to stroll in the midst of nature.

There used to be two separate parks, “Gongenyama Park” and “Okura Park,” but they were renamed and reorganized as “Manyo Park” in 1951.

The name “Manyo Park” is derived from the fact that Yugawara Onsen is the only hot spring mentioned in a waka poem in the Manyoshu (The Anthology of Myriad Leaves). Yugawara Onsen has been visited by many writers and artists.

There are many ways to enjoy Yugawara Onsen, such as visiting the poem monuments and walking along the mountain stream to enjoy the sound of the murmuring stream. You can also enjoy powdered green tea and sweets at Manyotei.

The park is also equipped with the sightseeing facility “Yugawara Soyu (Books and Retreat).

Facilities

Yugawara Soyu (Books and Retreat): This tourist facility was built on the former site of the Yugawara Kanko Kaikan and Dokpo no Yu. It consists of two areas: the Entrance Terrace and the Soyu Terrace.
Entrance Terrace: Located at the end of Manyo Bridge over the Fujiki River, this is the main entrance on the east side. It is the former “Yugawara Kanko Kaikan” and can be used free of charge.
2nd floor: Coworking space and management office
1st floor: Tourist Information Center and Cafe (take-out available)
Outside: Tables, benches, and footbaths
Soyu Terrace: A one-day hot spring facility located on the far (west) side of the park, where the former “Dokpo no Yu” was located.
Facilities: hot springs (2 for men and 2 for women), sauna, dining area, lounge, library
Manyotei Teahouse: A tea house in the sukiya style, located immediately after entering from the east side. It was designed by Suteki Horiguchi. A cup of matcha (powdered green tea) with sweets is 500 yen.
Taishido: Erected in 1960, this building was built to honor the achievements of Prince Shotoku. It is modeled after the Yumedono Hall of Horyuji Temple in Nara. The inscription on the building was written by Yuzo Yamamoto.
fountainhead water

Shrines

Kumano (Gongen) Shrine: This shrine is known as the guardian deity of hot spring water and health. The “Yuukake Festival” and “Kumano Shrine Annual Festival” are held on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of May every year.
Rikufuku Shrine: This shrine was built after World War II based on a legend that a wounded old raccoon dog who recovered from his illness at the Yugawara hot springs expressed his gratitude to his neighbors. The shrine is characterized by a series of small torii gates.

Poem Monuments and Honorary Monuments

Manyo Poem Monument: Located at the entrance to the park, southwest of the plaza in front of the tourist center, this monument is inscribed with a poem from the Manyoshu anthology (by Sasaki Nobutsuna). It features characters written by Takeuchi Seiho. Passing through the Manyo Cave Gate on the right leads to the Keiryu Strolling Path.
Yoseien Monument: Heihachiro Togo, who spent time at the Yoseien, inscribed this monument to express his gratitude to the Okura family, and it was erected in 1912 by Tetsuya Kawada, the principal of Takachiho School, and his instructors.
Umemon no Monument: This monument is inscribed with a haiku poem “I wish you would call out to me, aootsububomi (a bud of camellia)” written by Kaneo Umem, a haiku poet and Yugawara lover, when he visited the Camellia Festival in Yugawara.
Monument to Kunikida Doppo: Located in the back (west) part of the park is a monument to Kunikida Doppo. It is inscribed with the last sentence of his poem “Yugahara Yuki”: “When I went to the valley of Yugahara, I felt as if I were entering deep into the clouds. The monument was erected in 1936 at the suggestion of the poet Saijo Hachiju and written by Yoshie Takamatsu.

Plaza, etc.

Moonlit Night Plaza
Manyo Plaza
Flower Garden

Pathway

Literature Path: This is an inland route from the Manyo Poem Monument to the Kunikida Doppo Monument.
Stream Walk: A route along the Chitose River.