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。この日牛ヶ首展望台付近から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ました。魚野川が魚沼丘陵を貫き、旧小出町で破間川と合流し、水かさを増した本流に押し出されるかのようにして、霧は下流の堀之内へと流れてゆく。青い色調の風景の中に太陽が命の輝きを与えたような瞬間です。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ていた旧堀之内町は、近代になって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ます。魚沼地域において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」

以上旧堀之内町出身の歌人宮柊二氏の短歌

The best place to see the three mountains of Echigo is from the line connecting the Ushigashira Observation Deck in Kawaguchi, the former Horinouchi Town, and the Koide Ski Resort. On this day, as the sun began to rise from near the Ushigashira Observation Deck, the three mountains were tinged pink through the fog-shrouded former Horinouchi townscape. The Uono River flows through the Uonuma Hills, merges with the Hamagawa River in the former Koide Town, and pushes the swollen main stream downstream toward Horinouchi, carrying the mist with it. It was a moment when the sun seemed to give life to the blue-toned landscape. To the left of Komagatake, you can also see the silhouette of Arazawa-dake.

The Uono River, which divides and flows through the Uonuma Highlands, 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 in modern times, but elegant bon odori songs such as “Ono no Saka” still remain. These songs are valuable cultural assets that convey the atmosphere of the good old days in the Uonuma region.

“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.”

The above is a tanka poem by Shuji Miya, a poet from the former Horinouchi Town.

CANON EOS5DMarkⅣ+46mm  1/80秒 f：9

©️photo by Nakamura Osamu