Takahata Town, Higashiokitama District, is located in the southeastern part of Yamagata Prefecture. The town is surrounded by the Ou Mountains, the Mogami River, the Yashiro River, and the Wada River, and Lake Hiruzawa. The town dates back to ancient times, when Yashiro-go, the area around Takahata Castle, was governed as a tenryo (territorial domain) by the Edo Shogunate. Nukanome Village was also the terminus of the Mogami shipping route. Takahata Town, known as Mahoroba no Sato (Sato of Mahoroba), is a fertile and pleasant place to live, surrounded by hills and mountains. Furthermore, ancient tombs and rock shelters are scattered throughout the mountains and hills. Major tourist attractions include Kameoka Monjudo Hall, Takahata Castle Ruins, Shikokuji Temple Ruins, Akutsu Hachiman Shrine, Inunomiya (Dog Shrine) and Nekonomiya (Cat Shrine), and Hyuga Cave, designated as a national historic site.