Born about 800 years ago in Kona, Izu Nagaoka, Ayame Gozen was later called the most beautiful woman at the imperial court. Afterwards, she became the wife of Minamoto no Yorimasa, and after Yorimasa died in battle at the Byodoin in Uji, it is said that she returned to her hometown of Kona to pray for her husband’s soul. The “Genji Ayame Festival” is a celebration held to console her spirit, during which the hot spring town is filled with lively energy.