[Ganbou-iwa Rock in Engaru] Huge Rock Has Various Legend and Rumor

Ganbou-iwa Rock

Ganbou-iwa Rock (がんぼう岩) is a huge monolith in Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park (太陽の丘えんがる公園), Engaru town located in the northwestern part of Kitami city, and was born by volcanic explosion about 7,300,000 years ago. The Ganbou means "A place with with a fine view" in Ainu language, and the Engaru is derived from it. A legend credits a place that Tokachi Ainu (十勝アイヌ) fought against Yubetsu Ainu (湧別アイヌ) in Ainu period. Its height is 78 m, and it was used as a watch-place. For the form outstanding conspicuously, it has became a symbol of Engaru.

Movie of Ganbou-iwa Rock

The Engaru is a birth place of Mr. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (安彦良和), a famous Japanese animator, that is well-known for Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム), and the rumor said that the Gundam originates from the Ganbou-iwa Rock. Listening to it, I started to realize the rock is like the Gundam. By the way, the rock is famous as a suicide spot, and is well-known as a haunted place, too. The rumor said that a ghost picture was printed on a poster of a local credit association. I do not know if it of true, and the symbol has various rumors.

Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park

Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park (太陽の丘えんがる公園) is a park near Engaru Station in the center of Engaru town located in the northwestern part of Kitami city. Cosmos Garden (コスモス園), Moss Pink Garden (シバザクラ園), Ganbou-iwa Rock (がんぼう岩), Miharashi Ranch (見晴らし牧場), Niji-no-Hiroba Administrative Building (虹のひろば管理棟), Hyotan Pond (ひょうたん池), Bunka Trainig House (文化研修館) and Sun HIll House (サンヒルハウス) are in the site. In the park, the moss pink, cherry blossoms, azaleas, tulips can be savored in a spring, and the cosmos can be enjoyed in an autumn. Especially, the Cosmos Garden is one of popular tourist attractions in Eastern Hokkaido, and is one of the largest cosmos gardens in Japan that a lot of tourists come. In addition, it is said that the moss pink garden is one of 3 major moss pink gardens in Okhotsk area along with Higashimokoto and Takinoue. Article is here