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 country by which produce reaches Akutsu, but it is reported to be impassable for travellers.

From Akutsu after crossing one small hill, a level road bordered by rice fields leads through Ujiye to the foot of Yagorô Saka, known to the jinrikisha coolies as the worst hill this side of Sendai. On the other side of the hill is the castle-town of Kitsuregawa, with its river famous for eels and a fish called ayu, which is esteemed a great delicacy. The town has the historical interest of having been the seat of the Ashikaga family.

From Kitsuregawa to Sakuyama is a hilly road over high wild gorse-covered moorland, with occasional plantations of young beeches.

From Sukuyama to Ôtawara the read is level through several villages with gardens and rice-fields. A handsome avenue leads into Ôtawara from whence there is a cross-road to Imaichi, distant about 13 ri to the south-west.

Ôtawara was the seat of a daimiô of 30,000 koku, but was burnt in the war and has never been wholly rebuilt. The honjin however is one of the best on the road. The town is chiefly remarkable for the immense number of pack horses always standing in the streets, which would seem to point out some special activity of trade, but I am told that it possesses no particular meibutsu.

The northern gate of Otawara is washed by a small river, from which a level country extends to the Nasu kawa, on the south bank of which is Nabekake, a large town now almost entirely destroyed by fire. The banks of the Nasu kawa are perpendicular cliffs, with the upper edges most picturesquely wooded. On the north bank exactly opposite to Nabekake is the station town of Koyebori.

Between Koyebori and Ashino are the Ni-ju-san saka, twenty-three hills of corduroy roads. In very clear weather Fuji-san may be seen from the top of the second hill, which is therefore known as Fuji-mi saka.

Ashino is in a long valley surrounded by wooded hills, over which more corduroy roads lead to Shirasaka.