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[Tono, Iwate Prefecture] “Tono Monogatari no Yakata” allows you to experience old tales for yourself! Let's explore the hometown of monsters on a rental bicycle

This time, we will mainly introduce the Tono Monogatari no Yakata, a spot that represents Tono, famous as the home of monsters. It is a place where you can enjoy seeing, touching, and listening to many stories, including the Tono Monogatari

Many people love old stories, and Tono is home to many places related to these stories, such as Oshiradou and Kappabuchi

We recommend renting a bicycle from Tono Station and touring the old town while enjoying the scenery

The roots of the Tono Story House

The Tono Story Museum opened in 1986 and boasts a history of over 30 years

Originally, it was called "Tono Folktale Village." It was renovated in 2013, and the name was changed to its current name

Tono is the home of monsters

Tono is known as the home of monsters, and the reason for this is the "Tales of Tono" compiled by Kunio Yanagita

This is a collection of old folk tales from Tono. It was published in 1910

Among them are many monsters that are still popular today, such as Yuki-onna, Kappa, and Zashiki-warashi. In addition to ghost stories, the book also contains legends related to Shinto rituals, such as spirit abduction

The charm of Tono Monogatari Museum

The Tono Monogatari no Yakata is a place where you can experience the world of the Tono Monogatari in a real way. The inn where Yanagita Kunio stayed and the main house he built in his later years have been relocated here

Of course, you can come into contact with many other old tales besides the Tono Monogatari. Another attraction is being able to listen to old tales told by storytellers

There are places where you can enjoy local Tono cuisine and gift shops perfect for souvenirs, making it a spot where you can fully enjoy Tono

Old tales storehouse

This is a relocated storehouse from a sake brewery that was located in Tono. It is a place that mainly introduces old tales passed down in Tono

The stories are presented in a visually appealing way, using paper cutouts, shadow puppets, and video, so you will naturally be drawn into the world of the story

Without this man, there would be no "Tono Monogatari"! Sasaki Kiyoshi

In addition to the old tales, there is also a section introducing Sasaki Kizen, a man many people had never heard of before coming here

Sasaki Kizen is known as the "Grimm of Japan." He is a folklorist from Tono

He was the person who passed on the folk tales of Tono to Kunio Yanagita, and it can be said that without him, the Tono Monogatari would not have been born

Enjoy seeing, touching and listening

The Folktale Room is a semi-private room where you can sit on a sofa and listen to folktales. There is also an exhibit where you can touch an iron figurine and it will create a shadow animation. It is a place where you can enjoy looking, touching and listening

Tonoza Theatre

The Tonoza Theater inside the museum is a theater where you can experience old stories. At set times, you can listen to a storyteller's tales

This is one of the most important areas of the Tono Story House, and the receptionist will tell you the time the storytelling will begin

Many of the Tono tales are the subject matter

The storytellers tell a variety of old tales. One of the most popular is "Rat Sumo," which tells the story of a sumo match between a big, fat mouse who lives in a wealthy house and a very small mouse who lives happily with an elderly person

Another popular story is "Kappa Pond," in which a kappa who has been causing trouble, such as dragging a horse into a pond, finally regrets his actions

A distinctive feature of Tono folk tales is that they begin with "Mukashi attazumona" (There was once a place like this), and end with "Dondohare" (There is now a place like this). This "Kappa-fuchi" story is no exception

Kappa Falls is a real place in Tono, which previously introduced in another article . It is also a recommended spot where you might encounter a real kappa.

Yanagita Kunio Museum

The former Takazen Ryokan is the place where Kunio Yanagita actually stayed. It has been relocated in its entirety

Not only Yanagita, but also other famous people such as Orikuchi Shinobu and Nevsky stayed here. You can explore the tasteful interior of the time from the first to second floor

The first floor is the living area with a living room and bedrooms, and the second floor is the guest rooms

There are exhibits on Yanagita's life and other topics

Ito family

If you get hungry after looking around, head to Itoya Restaurant, where you can enjoy Tono's local cuisine. Popular dishes include hittsumi and Jingisukan

Hittsumi in particular is a dish you should try at least once if you visit Iwate. "Hittsumi" is a type of "suiton." It is so named because it is made by kneading well-kneaded wheat flour and adding it to soup

The Ito family's dish is a delicious harmonious combination of the deep flavor of chicken bones, many local ingredients, and the smooth texture of hittsumi

Akabanekura

INFORMATION
  • Name: Tono Story House
  • Address: 2-11 Chuo-dori, Tono City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0198-62-7887
  • URLTono City Official Website

Traditional Garden

There are 1,000 Oshirasama statues in the traditional garden

Another representative legend from the Tono Monogatari is Oshirasama, a love story between a horse and a young girl. A beautiful young woman marries a horse in the stable, and her father, displeased with the situation, cuts off the horse's head

It is said that the girl ascended to heaven with the horse's head. There is an area in Denshoen where 1,000 Oshirasama statues are displayed

Kikuchi family residence

It is located at the back of the Kikuchi Residence, a curved house that has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. This curved house is L-shaped, with the main house and stables integrated into one structure

The legend of Oshirasama recalls how the girl went to see her horse every night

Silkworm Shrine

At the back of the Magari-ya is the Oshiradō, a shrine dedicated to the silkworm god. Oshirasama is offered here. The tops of the mulberry trees are shaped like the faces of a girl and a horse

It is customary to cover it with a piece of cloth on which a wish has been written. The cloth is sold for 100 yen each. Be sure to add your own to the 1,000 Oshirasama as a memento

INFORMATION
  • Name: Iwate Tono Denshoen
  • Address: 5-1 Tsuchibuchi 6-jiwari, Tsuchibuchicho, Tono City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0198-62-8655
  • URLIwate Tono Denshoen Official Website

Summary of the Hometowns of Yokai

Tono, famous for the Tales of Tono, has many must-see spots where you can feel the spirits of old tales. The area is filled with unspoiled landscapes where you might expect to encounter monsters such as kappa and zashiki warashi

Popular places are scattered all the way to the outskirts of the city, including "Ushitori Shrine," which is said to grant love, and "Yamaguchi Watermill," which seems like the setting for a fairy tale

Buses are infrequent, running only once an hour. We recommend renting a bicycle and getting around after learning about the Tono Monogatari, focusing on the Tono Monogatari Museum introduced here

Bicycle rentals are available at the Tono City Tourism Exchange Center "Tabinokura Tono" (phone number: 0198-62-1333) in front of Tono Station. For information on fees, please see the URL below

Tono City Tourism Association Official Website: Tono Time

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