Kenmin no Mori was created as a relaxation area for citizens and the base of
recreational activities for youth as part of the memorial projects of the Meiji
Centennial Anniversary by Hiroshima Prefecture. The forest is divided into
three sections: Rokunohara, Ikenodan, and Azuma Mountain. Most of the
facilities are in the Rokunohara district, including the control center, restaurant,
campground, forestry botanical park, ski slope and parkingt area.
A walking path up the mountain covers 60km in the forest. The course varies
from light hiking, requiring two hours, to climbing the length of the Hiba Mountain
peaks, requiring two days.
 The Chugoku Mountain region, including Saijo-cho (Shobara City) and
Tojo-cho (Shobara City), contains a lot of quality iron sand. Therefore, many
tatara (refineries) existed there.
 Eidai tatara was developed in the Chugoku Mountain district from the end of
the medieval era to the early modern one. It was superior to nodatara in terms
of durability and productivity. This district became an advanced site for iron
manufacturing techniques in Japan.
 The Kanayago god, or Tatara Jizo, was worshipped at the tatara iron mill to
pray for success and safety. These types of tatara iron mills went on the decline
after the Meiji era because modern iron manufacturing methods came into
general use.