The formation of the geographical features of Innai is deeply connected to the volcanic activity that occurred here. Three massive volcanic eruptions took place here between 8 and 6 million years ago, forming the Innai caldera. This volcanic activity also caused the formation of the Innai tuff (Innai Rock) and the vein of ore of the Innai silver mine.

Innai Ginzan (Innai silver mine), with its rich vein of silver ore, was in the latter half of the Edo period (1603-1868) the greatest producer in terms of volume of silver in the whole of Japan, so it was named “Tenpo no Sakariyama”. This vein of silver ore can be deduced to be resulting from the volcanic activity that produced the Innai caldera. One of the leading silver mines of the country, around 350 years passed from the time of discovery until the closure of the mine.

Ono no Komachi, a female poet from the first half of the Heian period (794-1192), was reputed to be one of the world’s three most beautiful women. There are several theories as to her birthplace, but the one that she came from Ono in the city of Yuzawa has become mainstream. In the Ono and Yokobori areas, there are many legends, temples and historical sites associated with Komachi.

In the Yakunai area, you can see the rocky outcrop of the most ancient strata of granite rocks in Yuzawa, formed during the second half of the Cretaceous period (about 97 million years ago). Where the Yakunai River meets the O-yakunai River, lies the location that the live-action movie of the manga Tsurikichi Sanpei (Fishing Enthusiast Sanpei) was filmed. This manga was the masterpiece of artist Takao Yaguchi, who was born in Akita Prefecture.

Akinomiya Onsenkyo (hot spring village) has four varieties of hot spring with about 40 points of source. Located on National Route 108, in the direction of Miyagi Prefecture, (Onikobe Pass), it is said to have been discovered by the Buddhist priest Gyoki during the Nara period (710-794). We know from a traditional document which has been preserved since 1702, that Shingoroyu was opened in that year, so it is the oldest hot spring area in the prefecture.

To explain the history of the Sanzugawa environs, around 7 to 3 million years ago a large-scale volcanic eruption occurred, creating an enormous caldera lake about 10 km across from East to West, and 20 km across from North to South. However, it is said that this lake has since been covered by the volcanic debris produced by eruptions of volcanoes such as Mt. Kabuto and Mt. Takamatsu, causing it to disappear, and giving it the appearance that it has now.

In Takamatsu, Jomon ruins are to be found around the facility Geosuta☆Yuzawa. Cosmos flowers are planted along Prefectural Route 51 as part of green space activities, so the road is also known as Cosmos Line.

The Okuoyasu area which borders with Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, has abundant nature and ancient forests stretching across mountains such as Mt. Kurikoma. The old Oyasu Road, Hanayama Pass, and Mojigoe were from ancient times important strategic points on travel and transport routes. Traces of the forest railroad which ran until around 1965 remain ahead of Oyu hot springs.

Oyasu-kyo hot springs is located in the mountainous region, abundant in nature, that stretches from Mt. Kurikoma to Kijiyama Highland. High temperature steam and hot water burst from the ravine at Oyasu-kyo, allowing you to feel the powerful force of the Earth’s vitality. In this area, geothermal resources are actively put to use, with the best examples being the cultivation of agricultural produce in warm greenhouses, and the processing of dairy products. The valley is famous for the beauty of the fresh green of early summer, and the colored leaves of autumn, so it is thronged with many tourists throughout the year.

Minase is an area with many lakes and marshes. A steep slope draws a gently curving arc behind these lakes and marshes, and since it is common for boulders and stones to roll down from points around here, it is believed that all these lakes and marshes were formed as a result of landslides, occurring after the volcanic activity that took place here in the past. There is also a man-made dam nearby holding back the large volumes of water of Minase Dam, so it is truly a village connected with water.

Inakawa is a town that was established along the fluvial terraces of the Minase river basin. This region is steeped in history and culture that has remained rooted here since the rule of the Onodera clan, resulting in the continued flourishing trade in traditional products such as Kawatsura lacquerware and Inaniwa udon noodles.

There were three mines in the Komagata area that produced silver and copper; Shirasawa mine, Raiden mine and Okura mine, but all three are now closed, and a fruit orchard has been established on the site of the ruins of the Shirasawa mine. The geology around the mines consists of tuff dating from about 23 million to 5 million years ago. There is also a Kannon statue with connections to covert Christianity, that remains in a temple near to the mine.

Tsubakigawa town (now Kawabe, Akita City) was conferred to the Ikinokami clan, a scion of a branch of the Satake clan during the Boshin War in 1868. However, as the land was impossible to defend from an enemy attack, the seat of rule was moved to Ogachi district in 1870. Subsequently, the expansion of the clan rule led to the Iwasaki region being formed. In 1871, the Meiji government abolished the han-system in the Empire of Japan, replacing it with a new system of prefectures, and Iwasaki Prefecture was formed, although later in the same year it was subsumed into Akita Prefecture.

Yamada district has the largest area of rice paddies of any of the districts of the Yuzawa area, producing around 400 tons per year of rice for use in making sake. The Matsuoka mine that once operated here produced “Yuzawa silver”, renowned for its quality and mined by 400 miners at its peak. The area is also known for its religious faith, with a shrine established in every community as well as temples founded.

In the districts of Mitsuseki and Sukawa you can see many small, fan-shaped stretches of ground, a topology that has been put to use in the cultivation of crops, such as cherries and Japanese parsley, since times long past. In addition to this, the stone quarried in this area has been used historically in the production of statues of the Buddha and tombstones, so the district is known for its stone processing.

Surrounded by mountains of an altitude of 800 m or more, the city of Yuzawa is situated in an area that experiences heavy snowfall. Due to the capacity of both the volcanic rock and the forestation to retain the water from the melted snow of the mountain peaks, there is a great proliferation of water springs, with more than 29 named sources of spring water recorded in Yuzawa City. This spring water is used in the local sake industry, as well as in the precision instrument industry.