Isuzu River

A river that flows through Ise City in the central eastern part of Mie Prefecture. It originates in the mountainous region south of Ise City, in the center of the Shima Peninsula, and flows northward, passing through the sacred grounds of Kotaijingu (Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu) southeast of Ise City, before splitting into two near its mouth and flowing into Ise Bay. Although it is a small river with a length of 12 kilometers, it is widely known because Uji Bridge is built at the entrance to Kotaijingu, and Mitarai is located just upstream of that. This area, where the deep greenery is reflected in the clear rapids and carp swim, is the most divine in the Inner Shrine, and it is also called Mimosuso River after the story of Yamatohime-no-mikoto washing her imperial robes in this river. The upstream area is 5,420 hectares of primeval forest belonging to the Imperial Shrine, including Mt. Kamiji. It is a forest that serves as a recharge forest for the clear waters of the Isuzu River, and is valuable in terms of plant ecology as a warm-climate mixed forest unique to Japan. It is also important as a water supply for the city, with 25,000 tons of water being taken from it every day.

[Tatsuo Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

三重県中東部、伊勢市(いせし)を流れる川。志摩半島の中央、伊勢市南部の山地に源を発し、北流して伊勢市の南東、皇大神宮(こうたいじんぐう)（伊勢神宮内宮(ないくう)）の神域を貫流し、河口付近で二つに分かれ伊勢湾に注ぐ。延長12キロメートルの小さな川であるが、皇大神宮への入口で宇治橋が架かり、そのすぐ上流が御手洗(みたらい)であるところから広く知られる。清澄な急流に深い緑を映し、コイが泳ぐこのあたりは内宮でももっとも神々しく、倭姫命(やまとひめのみこと)がこの川で御裳(みも)を洗い清めた故事から御裳濯(みもすそ)川ともいう。上流は神路(かみじ)山を含む5420ヘクタールの神宮御料林の原生林で、五十鈴川の清流の涵養(かんよう)林であるとともに、日本固有の暖地性混交林として植物生態学上貴重である。市民の上水道としても重要で、1日2万5000トンが取水されている。

［伊藤達雄］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例