日本、〒989-6100 宮城県大崎市鳴子温泉尿前１４０

Turning back from Hiraizumi, Basho finally entered Dewa. Held up at the mountain checkpoint of Shitomae, he took shelter from the rain in a humble farmhouse for three days. There, he penned the unforgettable haiku capturing the unvarnished hardships of travel: *"Fleas and lice / a horse pisses / right by my pillow."*

日本、〒999-4227 山形県尾花沢市中町５−３６

In Obanazawa, a town thriving from the safflower trade, Basho stayed for about ten days, warmly hosted by his old friend and wealthy merchant Suzuki Seifu. He composed: *"Making coolness my lodging / I stretch out and relax."* The local dialect word *nemaru* (to lounge with legs stretched out) beautifully conveys how deeply at ease he felt.

日本、〒999-3301 山形県山形市山寺４４５６−１

An ancient mountaintop temple Basho visited as a detour from Obanazawa. Surrounded by quiet, towering rock formations, he wrote one of his most celebrated haiku: *"Such stillness / the cries of cicadas / sink into the rocks."* The cicadas' calls serve only to heighten the profound silence of the sacred mountain.

日本、〒999-4111 山形県北村山郡大石田町大石田９９９ 4111

A bustling boat landing along the Mogami River. Here, Basho gathered with local poets to compose verse. It was in Oishida that the early draft of his iconic poem was born, before being perfected into: *"Gathering May rains / swift and fierce / the Mogami River."* From here, the river flows down toward the Shonai region.

日本、〒997-0211 山形県鶴岡市羽黒町手向羽黒山３３番地

One of the sacred Three Mountains of Dewa alongside Gassan and Yudono, renowned for mountain asceticism (Shugendo). Basho spent several days here, writing: *"Such coolness / a faint crescent moon / over Mount Haguro."* A spiritual haven where soaring cedar groves and a National Treasure five-story pagoda welcome visitors.

日本、〒997-0532 山形県鶴岡市田麦俣十里山７ 鶴岡市田麦俣六

The inner sanctum of the Dewa Sanzan, governed by the strict sacred rule: "Speak not, ask not." Honoring this custom, Basho wrote little in prose, offering only the poignant verse: *"Beyond words / at Yudono I wet my sleeves / with tears."* Overcome by mystery, he could only weep in quiet reverence.

日本、〒998-0063 山形県酒田市南新町１丁目１０

The port town of Sakata, where the Mogami River empties into the Sea of Japan. Basho captured the magnificent sunset here: *"The scorching sun / swept into the sea / by the Mogami River."* A monument inscribed with the poem stands in Hiyoriyama Park overlooking the harbor.

日本、〒018-0122 秋田県にかほ市象潟町象潟島２

The northernmost point of Basho's journey. At the time, this scenic lagoon rivaled Matsushima in fame. Basho wrote: *"Kisakata in the rain / like the beauty Xi Shi / silk tree blossoms weeping."* An earthquake in 1804 lifted the lagoon bed, transforming the once watery landscape into sprawling rice paddies.

日本、〒949-4307 新潟県三島郡出雲崎町住吉町５５６

Looking out over the Sea of Japan toward Sado Island at sunset, Basho composed one of his most grand and cosmic verses at Izumozaki: *"Rough seas / stretching across to Sado / the River of Heaven (Milky Way)."*

日本、〒949-0111 新潟県糸魚川市市振６８７

A post town on the border between Echigo and Etchu provinces. Basho stayed at an inn where courtezans traveling on pilgrimage to Ise happened to lodge in the neighboring room: *"Under one roof / courtesans also sleep / bush clover and the moon."* Two completely contrasting walks of life briefly crossing paths under the same roof.