# Tono

> A rural town in the mountains of Iwate known as the birthplace of Japanese folklore studies, where kappa legends, old farmhouses, and pastoral landscapes preserve a vanishing countryside.

- Prefecture: Iwate
- Type: City
- Address: Tono, Iwate, Japan
- Official site: https://tonojikan.jp/

Tono is the spiritual home of Japanese folklore, immortalized in Kunio Yanagita's 1910 classic 'Tono Monogatari' (The Legends of Tono), which collected the region's rich oral traditions of kappa water spirits, zashiki-warashi house spirits, and other supernatural beings. The town embraces its folklore heritage with sites like Kappabuchi pool where kappa are said to dwell, and the Tono Furusato Village, a collection of relocated magariya L-shaped farmhouses that preserves traditional rural architecture. The Tono Municipal Museum offers excellent exhibits on folklore and local history. The surrounding countryside of rice paddies, hop fields, and forested mountains is best explored by bicycle, with rental shops near the station. Visit during the autumn harvest season for the most evocative landscapes, or in September for the Tono Matsuri festival celebrating the region's folk traditions.

## FAQ

### How do I get to Tono?

Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Hanamaki, then transfer to the JR Kamaishi Line, which reaches Tono in about 45 to 60 minutes. Tono makes an easy day trip or overnight stop in Iwate.

### What is Tono known for?

Tono is the folklore town immortalized in Kunio Yanagita's "Tono Monogatari" (1910) and is famous for its kappa legends, centered on the Kappabuchi pool. Visitors can explore the Denshoen folk park and the magariya, traditional L-shaped farmhouses, at Tono Furusato Village.

### When is the best time to visit Tono?

Late spring through autumn is ideal for visiting Tono, when the rural landscape and rice paddies are at their greenest. Autumn brings colorful foliage and harvest scenery, while winter offers a quiet, snow-covered atmosphere steeped in folklore.

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Source: Tono — Japan Voyage