Stone monuments called “soumokuto” can be found in Nakatsugawa.
The stone monuments inscribed with the words “soumokuto,” which translates into grass-and-tree monument, have been erected to show gratitude to the plants and trees that people used to make their living, and to pray for their growth. Over 90% of soumokuto can be found in Yamagata Prefecture, and are concentrated in the mountainous regions of the Okitama region. Inside the town of Iide, they can only be found in the Nakatsugawa district. Nakatsugawa was once a region where manufacturing items using plants flourished, and steady revenue was earned by producing tools for daily use. The soumokuto may have been interpreted as a manifestation of the minds of the local residents of Nakatsugawa to express their respect to the gods of nature, who supported the businesses of the mountainous regions.