Shinjuku Gyoen All to Yourself: Limited-Time Private Tours in Tokyo

Why not rent a bicycle and go on a tour of the "Yokai Benches"?

This service includes sponsored advertisements.
article thumbnail image

To get around the "Yokai Benches" installed in Fukusaki Town, rent a bicycle at the Fukusaki Town Tourist Exchange Center (in front of the station, Tsujikawa) for a smooth ride! Why not take a commemorative photo with the yokai on the bench as you go around?

Written by

Kobe Shimbun and Note, a general incorporated association working to utilize old houses (Tanba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture), have jointly established a town development company, PAGE Co., Ltd., in December 2018. The two companies will work to utilize old houses and cultural properties in a comprehensive manner and to create a lively community by utilizing the strengths of both companies. ■NIPPONIA Harima Fukusaki Library Maison The Miki Family Residence, a Hyogo Prefecture designated important tangible cultural property, is a prefectural designated cultural property with all nine existing buildings, and its grand structure conveys the life of a village headman to the present day. It has been reborn as a cultural property hotel, NIPPONIA Harima Fukusaki Library, which cherishes Yanagita's worldview, based on the historical fact that Kunio Yanagita, a native of Fukusaki Town and known as the father of folklore, was entrusted to the residence as a child and was absorbed in reading 4,000 books. PAGE Co., Ltd. will renovate the building, and REC Co., Ltd. will be in charge of hotel operations. ■Fukusaki Town Tourism Exchange Center The Fukusaki Town Ekimae Tourism Exchange Center and Fukusaki Town Tsujikawa Tourism Exchange Center opened on October 6, 2019. PAGE Co., Ltd. was commissioned by Fukusaki Town to create the concept and interior design of the facilities, and has been managing both facilities as the designated manager since their opening. In order to create a lively town, we help connect local people with visitors to Fukusaki Town through business development and facility management that utilizes both facilities. ■Town development projects We are developing various projects to create a lively town. "Chefs in Residence" aims to discover and develop leaders who will create a new food culture by highlighting the unique climate, culture, and regional food that has been passed down through history. "Local Challenge Project" develops seminars and challenge shops for people who want to interact with diverse human resources, such as producers who want to try town development, store openings and startups, and direct sales. We plan and manage projects that utilize local resources to create attractive areas. ■Tourism support projects We use subsidies from the Japan Tourism Agency and the Agency for Cultural Affairs to create tourism content and conduct monitor tours, develop souvenir products using local specialties, and create tourist information products for inbound tourists.

more

Are you seeing ghosts all over Fukusaki town?!

In Fukusaki Town, there are "Yokai Benches" with motifs of yokai from the books of Kunio Yanagita, and currently 22 kinds of yokai are waiting to welcome all visitors to Fukusaki Town. Enjoy your stroll through Fukusaki Town while taking commemorative photos with the yokai.

We recommend renting a bicycle to visit the Yokai Benches. You can rent one at the Fukusaki Town Tourist Exchange Center (in front of the station, Tsujikawa), and there are three types available: regular bicycles, electric bicycles, and E-bikes.

Zashiki-warashi, Amabie, Yuki-onna, and Sunakakebaba yokai benches<br>
Zashiki-warashi, Amabie, Yuki-onna, and Sunakakebaba yokai benches
A commemorative photo with the Yokai Bench (taken when actress Maya Ayahane visited Fukusaki Town)<br>
A commemorative photo with the Yokai Bench (taken when actress Maya Ayahane visited Fukusaki Town)

Bicycle rental

There are three types of bicycles available to rent at the Tourist Exchange Center.
*When renting, you will need to show identification such as a driver's license, insurance card, student ID or passport.
For more information, please see here .

【Fee】
・Normal bicycle: 300 yen per day ・Electric bicycle: 500 yen per day ・E-bike: Weekdays: 1,000 yen (up to 4 hours), 1,500 yen per day / Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 1,500 yen per day

For tourist information on the Yokai Bench and Fukusaki Town, please visit the Tourist Exchange Center.

At the Fukusaki Town Tourist Exchange Center (Ekimae, Tsujikawa), you can get a "Yokai Bench Cycling Course Map" that will take you from each center and around 19 types of Yokai Benches. The required time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes plus time for commemorative photos.

If you have time, try visiting Tatamitataki, Fuku-chan Saki-chan (Kobe Medical Future University), and Sodehiki Kozo (Tokiwado Confectionery Direct Sales Store) to complete your collection.

Yokai bench map and cycling course map available at Fukusaki Town Tourist Exchange Center<br>
Yokai bench map and cycling course map available at Fukusaki Town Tourist Exchange Center

For those starting their sightseeing from JR Fukusaki Station

If you are coming by car

Written by

PAGE Inc.

Hyogo

Kobe Shimbun and Note, a general incorporated association working to utilize old houses (Tanba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture), have jointly established a town development company, PAGE Co., Ltd., in December 2018. The two companies will work to utilize old houses and cultural properties in a comprehensive manner and to create a lively community by utilizing the strengths of both companies. ■NIPPONIA Harima Fukusaki Library Maison The Miki Family Residence, a Hyogo Prefecture designated important tangible cultural property, is a prefectural designated cultural property with all nine existing buildings, and its grand structure conveys the life of a village headman to the present day. It has been reborn as a cultural property hotel, NIPPONIA Harima Fukusaki Library, which cherishes Yanagita's worldview, based on the historical fact that Kunio Yanagita, a native of Fukusaki Town and known as the father of folklore, was entrusted to the residence as a child and was absorbed in reading 4,000 books. PAGE Co., Ltd. will renovate the building, and REC Co., Ltd. will be in charge of hotel operations. ■Fukusaki Town Tourism Exchange Center The Fukusaki Town Ekimae Tourism Exchange Center and Fukusaki Town Tsujikawa Tourism Exchange Center opened on October 6, 2019. PAGE Co., Ltd. was commissioned by Fukusaki Town to create the concept and interior design of the facilities, and has been managing both facilities as the designated manager since their opening. In order to create a lively town, we help connect local people with visitors to Fukusaki Town through business development and facility management that utilizes both facilities. ■Town development projects We are developing various projects to create a lively town. "Chefs in Residence" aims to discover and develop leaders who will create a new food culture by highlighting the unique climate, culture, and regional food that has been passed down through history. "Local Challenge Project" develops seminars and challenge shops for people who want to interact with diverse human resources, such as producers who want to try town development, store openings and startups, and direct sales. We plan and manage projects that utilize local resources to create attractive areas. ■Tourism support projects We use subsidies from the Japan Tourism Agency and the Agency for Cultural Affairs to create tourism content and conduct monitor tours, develop souvenir products using local specialties, and create tourist information products for inbound tourists.

more
The information presented in this article is based on the time it was written. Note that there may be changes in the merchandise, services, and prices that have occurred after this article was published. Please contact the facility or facilities in this article directly before visiting. Some of our articles contain affiliate links. We kindly ask our readers to exercise careful judgement when making a purchase or booking a service online.

The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.