Goza-no-ishi Rock
Goza-no-ishi is a large, flat rock (ishi) reminiscent of a goza, a mat woven of rushes. In the mid-1600s, Akita domain lord Satake Yoshitaka (1609–1672) toured the Lake Tazawa area and made this rock famous by resting here to admire the view of the lake. Visitors can take in the vista at the same spot, from which this deep lake appears to glow a vibrant blue.
A Shinto shrine was erected in 1911 and complements the natural spiritual setting. Goza-no-ishi Shrine’s vermillion-lacquered torii shrine gate now overlooks the lakeshore from the rock. Goza-no-ishi Shrine is dedicated to the legend of Tatsuko, a young woman whose pursuit of eternal beauty resulted in her transformation into a dragon. According to legend this is where Tatsuko threw herself into Lake Tazawa after turning into a dragon, to forever live in its depths as its guardian.