Rice terrace In agriculture, a terrace is a piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of successively receding flat surfaces or platforms, which resemble steps, for the purposes of more effective farming. This type of landscaping is therefore called terracing. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease both erosion and surface runoff, and may be used to support growing crops that require irrigation, such as rice. 

林道を登り、植林の杉林を抜けると突然ブナ林が広がります。

伐採の手をくぐりぬけ、ポカンと広がるブナの森。

柔らかな木漏れ日や吹き抜ける風、ふかふかの落葉や軽やかな音が心地よいです。

ここは海抜200mほどですが、通常1000mから植生のブナが、この標高にあるのは豪雪地帯ならではだそうです。

林道駐車場から歩いて10分ほどでたどり着けます。

林を抜けて、函山城址へのトレッキングルートもいかがですか？

There are many beech forests in Japan as a temperate plant group. Generally, in regions with lower temperature than temperate regions and areas with high altitude, forests mainly composed of deciduous trees can be made, but this representative is beech forest. Also, since the beech is thinner than the evergreen forest, the sun passes through the forest and the outlook becomes better.

The scenery of the beech forest which was not harvested is wonderful. And as walking through the forest we feel good feeling for passing soft sunlight, blowing wind through the forest, trampling down of the falling leaves on the ground.

As usually, vegetated beechs lives from 1000meters above sea level. Iwasawa is located 200 meters above sea level, but temperature drops due to heavy snow zone so it is possible to exist vegetated beech forest in Iwasawa
Location of this forest is about ten minutes by foot from parking lot in the center of the district. It is also recommended trekking to Hakusan Castle site, which is said to be builted in 1334 located beyond the beech forest.

池雲山西岩寺

曹洞宗

真言宗　岩沢山不動寺

桂町内増沢にあって一株から数本の幹を出している老桂の樹があります。

伝えによると行基が順錫して来てこの霊木を伐って不動像を刻んだところ、その後から若芽が育成したものである。

また、その樹の間に入ったり、枝葉を取ることは禁じられています。

秋になると黄葉とともに甘い香りがあたりに漂います。

forest of Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Cercidiphyllum japonicum, known as the katsura (from its Japanese name), is a species of flowering tree in the family of Cercidiphyllaceae natived in China and Japan. Cercidiphyllum japonicum is sometimes called caramel tree for the smell of caramel emits during leaves are falling. Forutunetly in Iwasawa Cercidiphyllum japonicum forest exist. Among them, there is one of the old stock which has issued several trunks from one stock.
from long time before it is said that a famous Buddhist monk came to Iwasawa and he cut down this tree and carved the statue of Buddha called Fudo.

After that from this tree were bred the young buds as for fortune
It is forbidden to enter into that trees or to take branches and leaves.

Also in autumn you can enjoy the beautiful colored yellow leaves of trees, and you can feel sweet smell drifting around 

越後川口～十日町～長野県飯山をつなぐ単線列車。

地元の人は昔から汽車と呼んでいます。

ディーゼル車両のため、電線がなく、景観も抜群。

昭和2年に駅が開設されて以来の木造駅舎。

 越後岩沢は無人駅です。

 看板や古レール跡などがレトロな趣と味わいを醸しています。

Iiyama line of JR(Japan Railway), connecting Iiyama in Nagano Prefecture from Echigo Kawaguchi in Niigata Prefecture, single track diesel vehicles is running. Echigoiwasawa Station is located on that line.
but in Iwasawa, this diesel vehicle called locomotive since long time.
Cause of diesel specification, vehicle don’t emit smoke, also no electric wire so we feel good view from inside the car .

Echigoiwasawa station building, made of wooden, was established in 1927 It has not changed since then

Currently Echigoiwasawa station is unmanned station. But from  signboards in the station and old rail mark etc which left at the station, visitors feel retrospective taste.

城山の中腹にあり、井壕、馬場等の跡が僅かに残っています。

Castle ruin of Hakoyama

 It is located in the Middle belly of Hakoyama（a Japanese name that means Castle Mountain）area, Almost nothing remains in the castle ruins, but there are also traces of Ibori(wells), Baba(Practice and places to play equestrian and horse racing), etc. were slightly left.