Yatate Pass

A pass on the border between Hirakawa City, Aomori Prefecture and Odate City, Akita Prefecture. It is 258 meters above sea level. National Route 7 (Ushu Kaido) crosses the pass, and the Ou Main Line passes through the Yatate Tunnel to the northwest. During the Edo period, it was the border between the Hirosaki and Akita domains, and Ikarigaseki Guard Post was located below the pass on the Aomori side. The road at that time was located to the west of the current national highway, and it is said that it was near the pass that Soma Isaku (Shimotomai Hidenoshin), the mastermind of the Hiyama Sodo in 1821 (Bunsei 4), attacked Tsugaru Yasuchika, the lord of Hirosaki Domain, on his way back from a visit to Edo. The pass area is known for its beautiful cedar forests, and there are hot springs such as Ainori and Yunosawa on the Aomori side, and Yatate and Hikage on the Akita side.

[Hiroshi Yokoyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

青森県平川市(ひらかわし)と秋田県大館市(おおだてし)の県境にある峠。標高258メートル。国道7号（羽州街道）がこの峠を越え、北西方を奥羽本線が矢立トンネルで抜けている。江戸時代は弘前(ひろさき)・秋田両藩の藩境で、青森県側の峠下には碇ヶ関番所(いかりがせきばんしょ)が置かれた。当時の街道は現在の国道の西寄りにあり、1821年（文政4）檜山騒動(ひやまそうどう)の主謀者相馬大作(そうまだいさく)（下斗米秀之進(しもとまいひでのしん)）が参勤交代帰途の弘前藩主津軽寧親(やすちか)を襲ったのは峠付近であったという。峠一帯は杉の美林で知られ、また青森県側に相乗(あいのり)、湯の沢、秋田県側に矢立、日景(ひかげ)の各温泉がある。

［横山　弘］

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