Naruko (鳴子町,Naruko-chō) was atown located inTamatsukuri District,Miyagi Prefecture,Japan.
On March 31, 2006, Naruko, along with the city ofFurukawa, the town ofIwadeyama (also fromTamatsukuri District), the towns ofKashimadai,Matsuyama andSanbongi (all fromShida District), and the town ofTajiri (fromTōda District), to create the new city ofŌsaki.[1]Tamatsukuri District andShida District were dissolved as a result of this merger.[citation needed]
Nestled in the mountainous backbone ofTōhoku region, Naruko is located entirely within theKurikoma Quasi-National Park. Haiku poetMatsuo Bashō passed through the area on the trip that became his masterworkOku no Hosomichi.
The volcanically active area is famous for theNaruko Hot Spring Villages (鳴子温泉郷), a cluster of five villages—Naruko, East Naruko, Nakayamadaira, Kawatabi and Onikōbe—with abundanthot 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 thekokeshi, a cylindrical wooden doll emblematic ofTōhoku. The Japan Kokeshi Museum is located in Naruko, and some 80 craftsmen work full-time at the art today.
Naruko is accessible by train on theJR EastRikuu East Line, some 40 minutes fromFurukawa Station, where connections to Tokyo can be made via theTōhoku Shinkansen. National Highways 47 and 108 also pass through the area.
In 2003, the town had an estimatedpopulation of 8,764 and apopulation density of 26.76 persons per km2. The total area was 327.55 km2.
平成18年3月31日に古川市、松山町、三本木町、鹿島台町、岩出山町、鳴子町、田尻町の1市6町が合併し、大崎市になりました。
Naruko travel guide from Wikivoyage
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