©Hidden Tokushima
HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Nagoro Scarecrow Village in Tokushima
Visit the kakashi (scarecrow) village in Shikoku that combines art, history, and community.
Nishi-Awa Tourism Association Sora-no-sato
In the most remote depths of the Iya Valley, you can hear gentle whispers of the past. The village of Nagoro had slipped into shadow, merely an echo of the tight-knit community of people who once lived here, working on the nearby dam.
When Tsukimi Ayano returned to her hometown after many years of living in Osaka and found the population dwindling little by little, she began crafting friendly-looking scarecrows in remembrance of the village’s former residents.
Now, Nagoro has been revived with over 350 of her handcrafted characters, who live alongside about 30 human residents. Each scarecrow has been thoughtfully placed in the environment: farming, doing construction work, waiting for the bus, climbing trees. What’s more, Ayano has filled the old school with her creations as well, just waiting to welcome visitors.
You can also buy some handmade souvenirs, such as dolls and pottery, around the village, all made by Ayano herself.
How to get there
From Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama Station (about 1 hour and 10 minutes), then switch to the JR Limited Express to Oboke Station (about 1 hour and 20 minutes). From Oboke Station, take the Shikoku Kotsu Bus (Iya Line) to Higashi-Iya Gakko-mae (about 1 hour), change to the Miyoshi City Bus (Nagoro Line) in front of the school, ride for around 40 minutes, and get off at the Nagoroshita bus stop.
191 Sugeoi, Higashi-Iya, Miyoshi-shi, Tokushima-ken
