Izumozaki Town, Mishima County, in the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, is the birthplace of Ryokan, a famous late Edo period monk. The town is home to the Ryokando Temple and the Ryokan Memorial Museum. Other famous attractions include Bashoen Garden, a stop on Matsuo Basho's Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North). The town also boasts a history of prosperity as a shipping point for gold and silver from Sado Island, which was a territory of the shogunate. Spots where you can experience nature include Oginojoyama and Akasakayama Natural Park. Festivals include the Big Catch Fish Festival in May, the Izumozaki Grand Festival in June, the Grand Fireworks Display in August, and the Lion Dance Event in January. Local cuisine includes cod soup, made with locally caught cod.