越後三山の朝

地図

越後三山を最もバランスよく望めるのは、川口の牛ヶ首展望台から旧堀之内町、小出スキー場を結ぶライン上です。特に牛ヶ首展望台付近からは、朝日が昇り始めると、霧に包まれた旧堀之内市街地越しに三山がピンク色に染まり、その美しさが際立ちます。霧は小出方面から下流の堀之内へと流れ、幻想的な光景を生み出します。駒ヶ岳の左手奥には荒沢岳の姿も望めます。

魚沼丘陵を分断し貫く魚野川、そして雪をいただく山々は、堀之内出身の歌人・宮柊二によっても詠まれました。かつて縮の市で賑わった旧堀之内町は、その後のさまざまな開発から取り残されてきましたが、「大の坂」などの優雅な盆踊り歌が今も残り、古き良き時代の雰囲気を伝える貴重な文化財となっています。

「大の坂」の解説ページ

近代の歴史の中で、開発と引き換えに多くのものが失われてきた地域も多い中、旧堀之内町は幸いにも、変化が緩やかに進み、昔ながらの町の風景や文化などを残しています。

「夢に立つ山紫水明雪しろき八海山と清き魚野川」

「年明けし越後三山郷人の心のごとく雪はかがやく」

「夜もすがら空よリ聞こえ魚野川瀬ごと瀬ごとの水激ち鳴る」

「空ひびき土ひびきして雪吹ぶくさびしき国ぞわが生まれぐに」

The best place to see the Echigo Sanzan mountains in perfect balance is along the line connecting Kawaguchi’s Ushigashira Observation Deck, the former Horinouchi Town, and Koide Ski Resort. Especially from the vicinity of the Ushigashira Observation Deck, as the sun begins to rise, the three mountains are bathed in pink light through the mist-covered old Horinouchi townscape, highlighting their beauty. The mist flows from the Koide area downstream toward Horinouchi, creating a fantastical scene. To the left rear of Komagatake, the silhouette of Arazawa-dake can also be seen.

The Uono River, which divides and runs through the Uonuma Hills, and the snow-capped mountains were also praised in poems by Miyagi Shuuji, a poet from Horinouchi. The former Horinouchi Town, which once thrived as a shibori market, was left behind by various developments that followed, but elegant bon dance songs such as “Ono no Saka” remain to this day, serving as valuable cultural assets that convey the atmosphere of the good old days.

“Dai no Saka” explanation page

In the modern era, many regions have lost much in exchange for development, but fortunately, the former Horinouchi Town has seen gradual changes, preserving its traditional townscape and culture.

“The mountain stands in a dream, purple and clear, snow-white Hakkaisan and the pure Uono River.”

“As the new year begins, the snow shines like the hearts of the people of Echigo Sanmyaku.”

“All night long, the sound of the Uono River echoes from the sky, each rapids roaring with the force of the water.”

“The sky resounds, the earth resounds, and the snow blows in this desolate land—my birthplace.”

CANON EOS5DMarkⅣ+46mm  1/80秒 f：9

©️photo by Nakamura Osamu