Maruike sama, a Mysterious Emerald Spring Pond in Yuza, Yamagata

At the foot of Mount Chokai in Yuza, Yamagata, lies a mysterious pond called Maruike sama. About 20 meters across and 3.5 meters deep, this pond is filled only by underground spring water from Mount Chokai, and it shines emerald green depending on the angle of view and the play of light. Since old times people have added an honorific to its name out of awe and revered the pond itself as a sacred body. The Maruike shrine, an outlying subshrine of Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine, stands on its bank, and in 2008 the site was designated a national historic site as part of the Mount Chokai faith. It is one of the finest scenic power spots in the Shonai region.

Highlights

• The mysterious surface shining emerald green in the light, changing color from moment to moment through the day
• Fallen trees resting on the bottom without rotting, a dreamlike sight only possible in such clear water
• The Maruike shrine on the bank. Putting your hands together quietly feels like washing the heart clean
• A legend of one eyed fish remains, and it is said that every fish living here has only one eye
• The twisting old growth forest around the pond, designated a natural monument by the town

Enjoying the Seasons

In the fresh green season the greenery of the trees around the pond reflects on the surface for deep tones. In summer the cool mood created by the shade feels pleasant, and in autumn the foliage reflected in the water mirror is dreamlike. In winter, amid the snow scenery, the hushed and still pond grows even more mysterious. It is said to be especially beautiful in the morning when the angle of light shifts.

Access and Basic Information

• About 5 minutes by car from Fukura Station on the JR Uetsu Line
• About 25 minutes by car from Sakata Minato IC on the Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway
• Free parking at the adjacent Minowa salmon collection facility (standard cars only, with a separate lot for large buses), then a few minutes on foot along the path
• Free to visit
• Nearby spring spots such as the Ushiwatari river, famous for its water crowfoot, and the Douhara Falls are scattered close by

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: the emerald green surface is most vivid on a clear morning when sunlight enters. The summer greenery and the winter snow scenery also change the mood greatly
• Avoiding crowds: the parking area fills on weekends and during summer holidays, so an early morning arrival is safest
• Time needed: about 30 minutes to walk around the pond and pray. Adding the Ushiwatari river and Douhara Falls makes it a half day course
• Real nearby spots: the Ushiwatari river, famous for its water crowfoot, Douhara Falls, and the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura branch are all a short drive away
• Budget: both admission and parking are free, and the surrounding spring tour is basically free to enjoy

A Quick Tip

On a clear morning the surface shines all the more beautifully. The path is a mix of boardwalk and gravel, so easy walking shoes are recommended. Touring it together with the nearby spring spots lets you feel the full blessing of water brought by Mount Chokai.

📚 Sources

This article is based on the guidance for Maruikesama published by Yusa Town and the Shonai regional tourism associations, materials on the Maruike Shrine enshrined at its edge as an outer subsidiary shrine of Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine, public records of its designation as a national historic site, and the local explanatory boards. The surrounding trails, access, and parking vary by season, so please confirm the latest details through Yusa Town before visiting. Please also keep in mind that the emerald-green appearance depends on the light.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About 30 minutes to an hour to view the pond and walk the surroundings
• What to bring: Comfortable shoes for walking around the spring-fed site and clothing suited to the season
• Timing tips: Choosing a time when light streams in lets you enjoy the emerald-green surface more fully
• Highlights: The pond filled only by the underground flow of Mount Chokai, Maruike Shrine, and the scenery designated a national historic site
• Note: As the pond itself has long been revered as a sacred body, view it quietly

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Location: 57 Aza Arakawa, Naose, Yuza-machi, Akumi-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
• Visiting hours and fees: Free to visit at any time, free of charge
• Parking: Free of charge. Space for about 20 ordinary cars in front of the Minowa Salmon Hatchery, plus 5 spaces reserved for buses
• Access (by rail): About 5 minutes by car from Fukura Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, or about 20 minutes on foot
• Access (by car): About 10 minutes from the Yuza-Chokai interchange on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway. From the Sakata-Minato interchange it is about 25 minutes
• From the car park to the pond: A few minutes' walk along the footpath
• Time required: 20 to 30 minutes if you simply look at the pond and offer a prayer at Maruike Shrine. Half a day if you go on to the Ushiwatari River or Dobarataki
• Toilets: There is 1 portable toilet at the bus car park (closed in winter)
• Footwear and clothing: The footpath consists of boardwalk and earth and gravel paths. Wear comfortable walking shoes. It is cool by the water even in summer, so an extra layer makes it more comfortable
• Strollers and wheelchairs: As you go along an unpaved footpath, it is not easy to get close by wheelchair or with a stroller
• Etiquette for visitors: Going inside the fence around the pond to take photographs is strictly forbidden. Throwing things in and taking any of the wildlife are also prohibited
• In rainy weather: This is an outdoor visit with no shelter. You will need rain gear, but the colour of the water can be enjoyed even under cloudy skies
• Time of day: The emerald green stands out most when the sunlight shines in. A fine morning is the time to aim for
• To avoid the crowds: The car park fills up easily at weekends and during the summer holidays, so arriving early in the morning is reassuring
• Goshuin seal stamps: The goshuin stamp for Maruike Shrine can be received at Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine
• Budget guide: Both visiting and parking are free of charge. The other spring-water sites in the area are basically free too
• Places to visit together: The Ushiwatari River, where the aquatic buttercup blooms in early summer; Dobarataki, where two streams fall on either side of a shrine in a cedar wood (Aza Futokoro-no-uchi, Yoshide, Yuza-machi / 4 spaces for ordinary cars); and the Fukura Guchi-no-miya of Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine

Information Sources

The location (57 Aza Arakawa, Naose, Yuza-machi), the number of parking spaces (about 20 for ordinary cars and 5 for buses), the portable toilet and its closure in winter, and the travel times from Fukura Station and the Yuza-Chokai interchange were checked in the spring-water group guide of the Yuza Chokai Tourism Association. The diameter of about 20 metres and depth of about 3.5 metres, the travel time from the Sakata-Minato interchange, and the fact that the site lies within the precincts of Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine come from the Yamagata Prefecture official tourism website "Journey to Yamagata". The facts that Maruike Shrine is a detached subsidiary shrine of Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine, its designation as a national historic site in 2008, the surrounding virgin forest being a natural monument of the town, the water temperature of about 11C throughout the year, the legend of the one-eyed fish and its origin with Kamakura Gongoro Kagemasa, the Ibara-tomiyo sticklebacks that live there, the ban on going inside the fence, throwing things in and taking wildlife, and the point that the goshuin stamp can be received at Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine are based on the feature article on Maruike-sama published by the tourism website for the Shonai area of Yamagata Prefecture. The background to the historic site being named "Chokaisan" comes from the historic site guide on the Yuza Town official website. Details are subject to change, so please check official information before you set out.