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Itoigawa, which is located in the south west of Niigata Prefecture, is rich in nature. The city is surrounded by two national parks and three prefectural nature parks, with its north side facing the Japan Sea. Hisui-kyo (Jade ravine) in Hakuba-sanroku prefectural nature park, which extends around the Kotaki-gawa River, a branch river of the Hime-kawa River, is especially well known as a secluded region where rough jade can be seen in the clear stream from Mt. Myojo-san and is designated as a natural treasure. Itoigawa has been connected with jade from ancient times. This was proved when processed jade, such as magatama (comma-shaped beads) and kudatama (cylindrical beads), as well as a lot of rough jade and whetstones were excavated from Chojaga-hara ruins in the city. The discovery was an important one as it clarified the fact that jade was produced in ancient Japan contrary to the common view that it was imported from the Asian continent. A phrase in Manyoshu (the earliest extant collection of Japanese poetry) tells us the fact that jade was produced in the basin of the Hime-kawa River.
Courtesy: Itoigawa City Office of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
