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Iwate/Tono - A journey through the world of "Tono Monogatari", a journey of folklore and fantasy that transcends time and space
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How would you feel if you learned that ``Tono Monogatari'' is not a fictional story and that there are still places that can actually be visited today? The original scenery that remains in Japan's eternal hometown will take you on a journey of legend and fantasy that transcends time and space.
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What comes to your mind when you hear the word “hometown”? If you look it up in a dictionary, you'll likely find meanings such as ``a place with deep connections from ancient times'' and ``a place where you were born and raised.''
Tono City in Iwate Prefecture is called the "eternal hometown of Japan."
Surrounded by pleasant mountains, deep greenery and rich traditional culture blend together, Tono City retains a strong sense of Japan's original landscape, and is also famous for Kunio Yanagida's ``Tono Monogatari.'' ``Tono Monogatari'' is a collection of anecdotes and legends passed down in the Tono region, and is a collection of so-called folk tales. The world described there is very mysterious, and there are many stories that have a somewhat occult atmosphere.
But how would you feel if you found out that the story is not fictional and that there are still places you can actually visit today? The original scenery that remains in Japan's eternal hometown will take you on a journey of legend and fantasy that transcends time and space.
Tono, where the original scenery of Japan remains
The Tono Basin, located in the inland area of Iwate Prefecture, has a landscape that changes throughout the seasons.
The majestic Rokkoshi Mountain with lush greenery, the clear Sarugaishigawa River, and fruitful rice fields stretch on forever, with water mills, old stone monuments, and shrines surrounding the fields. You can see it. It's a place where you can get a glimpse of ancient life, and you won't find it strange that folk tales remain.
The world of Tono Monogatari
The Tales of Tono is a work written and compiled by Kunio Yanagita, based on the folklore of Tono told by Kiyoshi Sasaki, a local folktale collector and novelist, and is said to be the forerunner of Japanese folklore. I am. The contents include many mysterious legends such as Zashiki Warashi, Kappa, and Oshirasama, but the focus is on folklore, and there are no strange changes, and the stories are compiled as they were heard. Despite this, it was highly praised for its unique literary style, and remains very popular even today. Let's explore the mysterious world of Tono Monogatari.
JR Tono Station
Let's start this journey from JR Tono Station. This station building, located in the center of Tono City, is constructed of hard concrete blocks and has an architectural style that is rare in Japan. In 2002, it was selected as one of the top 100 stations in Tohoku for its ``masonry-style exterior that incorporates European architectural styles.''
Tono is also a land known for the ``kappa legend.'' This legend also appears in ``Tono Monogatari,'' and there are objects with kappa motifs dotted around the station, and the Tono Ekimae Police Box building has a unique design that resembles a winking kappa.
Now, let's review Tono Monogatari at a facility near the station.
Tono's Story House
Tono Monogatari no Yakata is located about a 6-minute walk from JR Tono Station. This facility consists of the Folktales Collection, which introduces the folk tales and folktales that appear in The Tales of Tono, and the historic buildings such as the former Takazen Ryokan and the former Yanagida Kunio retirement home. In the Folktales Gallery, many folktales known from all over Japan are exhibited, from legends unique to Tono such as kappa and zashikiwarashi, to ``Hanasakajiisan'' and ``Momotaro.''
All of them are tastefully put together using beautiful illustrations and objects, and are enjoyable for both children and adults.
Several old buildings have been preserved, including the former Takazen Ryokan and Yanagida Kunio's retirement home. There are many materials on display that introduce Kunio Yanagita's achievements.
If you have time, you can listen to the story told directly by the storyteller. It will help you understand the world of Tono Monogatari more deeply.
Tono City Museum
Leaving Tono Monogatari no Yakata with JR Tono Station behind you, walk another 5 minutes to reach the Tono City Museum. Exhibitions are held here based on three themes: "The World of the Tales of Tono," "Nature and Life in Tono," and "Folklore of Tono." This museum exhibits the manuscript of Kunio Yanagida's ``Tono Monogatari'' and folklore materials unique to the Tono region, such as Oshirasama.
You can also see materials related to folklorists connected to Tono, such as Ino Yoshinori and Sasaki Yoshizen. Now that we have reviewed the Tales of Tono, let's actually step into its world.
Ukotori Shrine
The shrine of Ukotori-sama, located about 5 minutes by car from JR Tono Station, is known as the god of love and is visited by many couples. This shrine also appears in the 35th episode of ``Tono Monogatari Shui'' and is described as a special place.
In the past, there was a large deep pool in this area, and it is said that a mysterious being called the ``Lord of the Deep'' lived there. It is said that if you pray for a relationship between a man and a woman here, your wish will mysteriously come true, and for those who are deeply religious, the ``Lord of the Deep'' will sometimes appear to you.
Nowadays, it is said that if you tie a red cloth to the branch of the tree in front of the shrine at that location, using only your left hand, you will find love. After visiting the god of love, let's take a short trip to see Oshirasama, who is enshrined as the god of the house.
tradition garden
Denshoen is a facility established to preserve the daily life of the people of Tono and pass it on to future generations, making it the perfect environment to deeply understand Tono's history and culture. There are many attractions within the park. For example, there is the Kikuchi Family Residence, a beautiful curved house that is an important national cultural property, and the Kizen Sasaki Memorial Hall, which commemorates Kizen Sasaki, the narrator of "The Tales of Tono."
Furthermore, at the Oshirasama Hall, approximately 1,000 statues of Oshirasama, the god associated with sericulture and agriculture, are on display, allowing visitors to get a glimpse of the depth of Tono's culture and faith. These facilities play an important role in connecting Tono's past and present, giving visitors a deep sense of Tono's history and culture.
In the 69th story of ``Tono Monogatari,'' there is a story about a girl who became a couple with a horse. The angry father hangs the horse from a mulberry tree and kills it. The sad girl climbed onto the horse's severed head and ascended to heaven. This event is said to be the birth of Oshirasama.
When you enter the Silkworm Shrine, which is connected to the Magariya, visitors are greeted by approximately 1,000 Oshirasama statues made of wooden sticks carved with the faces of horses and people and covered in cloth.
The story of a daughter marrying a horse may seem unbelievable at first glance, but it is a sad legend that arose from the importance of horses in farming and transportation, and has become an object of religious belief.
Knowing the story and looking at the simple-looking god inside the temple, you may feel a sense of sadness. There is another place near this facility that has another legend, so let's head there next.
Joken-ji Temple and Kappa-buchi
About a 5-minute walk from Densho-en through hop fields is Joken-ji, a Soto sect temple. Founded in 1490, this historic temple is home to the only Kappa guardian dog in Japan. There is a legend that this rare Kappa guardian dog became a guardian dog after extinguishing a fire at Jokenji Temple by a kappa who lived there.
There is a stream that flows behind Jokenji Temple, and it is said that in the past many kappa lived there, surprising people. As a result, this place came to be called ``Kappabuchi''.
According to materials from the Tono Cultural Research Center, there are 14 deep pools in Tono City where kappa are said to have appeared. This includes a slightly clumsy story in which a raincoat tries to pull a horse into a deep hole, but instead ends up being dragged all the way to the stables. If you listen to these stories, you may feel that Kappa is not a scary monster, but rather a being that you can't hate.
There is also a relatively recent record of a kappa being sighted in 1974. Kappa-buchi, where clear water flows smoothly, is covered with dense bushes, giving the impression that a kappa is about to appear at any moment.
What I would like to try at Kappabuchi is "catching a kappa."
There is a "Kappa Capture Permit" (220 yen) issued by the local tourism association, and if you catch a kappa and go to Tono TV with friends, you will win a prize of 10 million yen! ! !
So why not try your hand at catching cucumbers alive, which is their favorite food?
Tono hometown village
About a 10-minute drive from the Denshoen Garden, there is a place called Tono Furusato Village that recreates a nostalgic rural landscape. This village has thatched-roof houses and watermills built from the Edo period to the Meiji period, and you can experience and enjoy various traditional cultures and rural life in a peaceful landscape.
When you enter Tono Furusato Village from the visitor center, you will see Mayoiga Forest, which also appears in The Tales of Tono, right in front of you.
``Mayoiga'' is a story that has been passed down in this area for a long time about a mysterious house in the mountains. It is said that visiting this house will bring good luck and wealth to those who visit. According to the story, those who went to the house were allowed to take something back from there.
However, only a limited number of people are actually lucky. For example, the 63rd chapter of ``Tono Monogatari'' tells the story of a wife of the Miura family who was lucky because she had no greed. On the other hand, the 64th story depicts the story of a young man who was not lucky because he was greedy. Well, what do you think?
In any case, once you pass through the Mayoiga Forest, you will be able to see the Nanbu Magariya Village, where horses and people once lived together, as well as wonderful scenery throughout the year, including wildflowers, cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and snowy scenery. . You may end up spending the entire day forgetting the time.
continuation stone
About 15 minutes by car from JR Tono Station, there is a mysterious ``Zokuishi''.
In the first chapter of ``Tono Monogatari Shui,'' there is a description that ``Zokuishi closely resembles the dolmens described by modern scholars.'' This stone, which appears in the 91st episode of ``Tono Monogatari,'' is famous for its mysterious properties. While it may be an ancient tomb, it is also said to have been lifted and built by the legendary Musashibo Benkei.
To see this mysterious stone, pass through a torii gate and walk along a mountain path for about 15 minutes until you reach a small elevated area surrounded by cedar trees. There, there is a large stone structure shaped like a torii gate, with two stones lined up. On top of the stone on the left is a large stone about 7 meters wide, 5 meters deep, and 2 meters thick, and this stone is called ``Sasaishi''.
It is not clear whether it is man-made or a natural miracle, but there is no doubt that the presence of these stones makes this area a mysterious and sacred place.
There is a dedicated parking lot for Zokuishi sightseeing, but it is a small parking lot, so if you park a few cars, it will fill up, so please be careful when visiting.
Access to Tono
Even at a quick glance, there are so many places that have connections to The Tales of Tono.
In this article, we will mainly focus on the courses that require transportation by car, but if you have plenty of time, it would be a good idea to rent a bicycle (closed during the winter) and take your time exploring the area.
When you visit Tono, you may find something that modern people have forgotten.
Written by
We are a regional trading company responsible for promoting local products and revitalizing tourism in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture. Tono is home to numerous legends about kappa and zashiki warashi, and is also home to an abundance of agricultural and livestock products that take advantage of its location in a basin, with one of the largest production volumes of hops used in beer in Japan. I'm proud. By interweaving Tono's people, goods, history and culture, we aim to create value unique to the region, refine the Tono brand, and revitalize the region.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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