Cradle [クレードル] 出羽庄内地域文化情報誌

　Matsuo Basho left Bashoan near Fukagawa in Edo on March 27, 1689 accompanied by his apprentice, Sora Kawai for a journey that lasted 142 days until he reached Ogaki in Gifu Prefecture on September 6^th.

　On May 15^th, he entered Sakata in Dewa Province from Shitomaenoseki in Mutsu Province where he visited Seifu Suzuki in Obanazawa. He was welcomed and stayed for 10 days.

 On May 27^th, he visited Yamadera, passing through Oishida and Shinjo. On June 3^rd, he boarded a boat at Motoaikai and went down the Mogami River, getting off at Kiyokawa.

　He walked to Toge on Mt. Haguro and called on Rogan Zushi (Sakichi Kondo ). After receiving a letter of introduction from Ichiei Takano in Oishida, Rogan sought direction from Betto Egaku (head priest) of the main priest’s dwelling on Mt. Haguro. Then, after once descending the mountain, he again climbed up to Minamidani as he guided Basho there.

On June 9^th, Basho visited Mt. Yudono, returned to the summit of Mt. Gassan, and then went back to Minami-dani.

At that time, his pupil, Juko Nagayama from Tsuruoka and another pupil  from Sakata came to visit　to acknowledge Basho’s hardships during his travels. Thus, on the 9^th there was a gathering of haiku poets at the temple in Minami-dani.

　　　　I cannot speak of Mount Yudono—yet see how wet my sleeve is now　　Basho 

　　　　Tears rush to my eyes as I step knowingly upon the coins of the sacred road of Mount Yudono                          Sora

　On June 10^th, the group left Haguro and went to the Nagayama home in Tsurugaoka.

　This journey followed in the footsteps of the poets, Saigyo and Noin as Basho set out for Matsushima and Kisakata, enjoying the picturesque scenery. For Basho, it is said to have been a search for the “world of death and rebirth.” Thus, the week spent on Dewa Sanzan became one of the great aims of the journey. Today, “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” has become an international work representative of Japanese literature.