Nagoro Scarecrow Village
Nagoro Scarecrow Village
Nagoro Kakashi-no-sato
名頃 かかしの里
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Perhaps one of the most weird and wonderful things of the Iya Valley is the Scarecrow Village of Nagoro. The creation of artist Tsukimi Ayano, since about 2003 she has constructed hundreds of lifesized scarecrows (kakashi
in Japanese) in an effort to re-populate her once thriving home-town village, which currently has a population of less than 30 or so people. The scarecrows are literally everywhere in this small hamlet engaged in various activities, including farming the fields, working on telephone wires, chatting with eachother, and simply waiting for the bus.
Originally a sculptor and potter, Ms. Ayano moved away to Osaka from Nagoro when she was younger, back when the village had several hundred residents who worked on a nearby dam. However, when the dam was later automated, the village became a shadow of its former self, and when Ms. Ayano returned in 2002, most of the residents had gone.
Her first scarecrow was literally just that, placed within the vegetable field next to her roadside house. She did quite a good job with its construction, so much so that people driving by would often think it was a real person.
Inspired by the playfulness of her creation, she made another, and another, and soon decided to make a scarecrow representing everyone she once knew in the village in an effort to reverse the severely dwindling population. Each one of her works has a name, personality, and life story that she keeps in her "Scarecrow Registry".
Aside from walking through the village to see the scarecrows when visiting, go inside the blue-roofed old Kindergarden
which is packed full of scarecrows and is also Ms. Ayano's workshop. Also, go across the bridge there to the former Elementary School,
where the classrooms are filled with scarecrow students and teachers. Each autumn there is also a Scarecrow Festival
(see below) and Ms. Ayano also holds Scarecrow Making Workshops
(also see below).
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Local Points
The scarecrow dolls of Nagoro are spread out across village, with the majority being located in a 150 meter long stretch between Nagoro Lower Bus Stop
and the bridge that goes over to the former Elementary School.
Walking along the road between here is a unique experience.
Near the bridge going to the school is the old kindergarden with its blue pointed roof. It is full of scarecrows and serves as Ms Ayano's workshop. During the day this building is usually open and it is great to go inside and sit amongst the scarecrows for a bizarre photo.
Across the bridge is the former Elementary School which is also filled with scarecrow children and their teachers. Going in here is pretty amazing (there are two floors of classrooms and a whole gym of scarecrows). You are free to do so as long as its open. On weekends and holidays the building is probably unlocked, however during the week it is usually closed.
Out near the main Nagoro Bus Stop there are only a few scarecrows here and there. A set of public toilets are located here. A bit further up the road and across the bridge is the Mt Miune Trailhead with plenty of parking, a small shelter room, and another set of public toilets.
Near the bridge going to the school is the old kindergarden with its blue pointed roof. It is full of scarecrows and serves as Ms Ayano's workshop. During the day this building is usually open and it is great to go inside and sit amongst the scarecrows for a bizarre photo.
Across the bridge is the former Elementary School which is also filled with scarecrow children and their teachers. Going in here is pretty amazing (there are two floors of classrooms and a whole gym of scarecrows). You are free to do so as long as its open. On weekends and holidays the building is probably unlocked, however during the week it is usually closed.
Out near the main Nagoro Bus Stop there are only a few scarecrows here and there. A set of public toilets are located here. A bit further up the road and across the bridge is the Mt Miune Trailhead with plenty of parking, a small shelter room, and another set of public toilets.
Access by Car
By car, its pretty easy to reach Nagoro Scarecrow Village.
It is located along Rt 439
and unlike other Iya villages, it is only spread out along the roadside (the village does not climb up the mountainside).
Its about a 20 minute drive to/from Lower Ochiai Village and about a 6 minute drive to the Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges).
You can park either near the Nagoro Lower Bus Stop and then walk up through the village along the road, or park at the blue roof old Kindergarden which is located across the bridge from the old Elementary School.
Its about a 20 minute drive to/from Lower Ochiai Village and about a 6 minute drive to the Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi (Double Vine Bridges).
You can park either near the Nagoro Lower Bus Stop and then walk up through the village along the road, or park at the blue roof old Kindergarden which is located across the bridge from the old Elementary School.
Access by Bus & Foot
There are two bus stops in Nagoro. The Nagoro Lower Bus Stop
is probably where to go to see the majority of the scarecrows, and from here you can walk up to the main Nagoro Bus Stop.
The main Shikoku Kotsu Buses from Nishi-Iya, Oboke, and/or Ikeda do not come out this far, so to get here from there you will need to transfer onto the Local Municipal Bus (main transfer points are either Kubo Bus Stop
or Ochiai-bashi Bus Stop
or Kyojo Bus Stop
).
** Do note that this is the final regularly scheduled daily bus stop on the Local Bus Line, and the final two buses of the day that go back down the valley to Kubo do not connect to one of the main buses going back to Nishi-Iya or Oboke.
On weekends, holidays, and for several weeks a year in spring, summer, and autumn two daily Local Buses continue past Nagoro and go to Niju Kazurabashi Bus Stop for the Double Vine Bridges and then Tsurugisan Bus Stop for Mt Tsurugi. If you are visiting on a day when these buses do not operate, you can walk up to the Double Vine Bridges in about 1 hour.
** Do note that this is the final regularly scheduled daily bus stop on the Local Bus Line, and the final two buses of the day that go back down the valley to Kubo do not connect to one of the main buses going back to Nishi-Iya or Oboke.
On weekends, holidays, and for several weeks a year in spring, summer, and autumn two daily Local Buses continue past Nagoro and go to Niju Kazurabashi Bus Stop for the Double Vine Bridges and then Tsurugisan Bus Stop for Mt Tsurugi. If you are visiting on a day when these buses do not operate, you can walk up to the Double Vine Bridges in about 1 hour.
Nagoro Scarecrow Festival
On the first Sunday of October
each year the village hosts a small festival in honor of the scarecrows and anyone is welcome to attend. It starts in the morning, with food vendors, a
mochi-maki (rice cake throwing event), and a few other activities.
One of the main events is the photo contest
with multiple prizes. The main photo winner gets their own one-of-a-kind scarecrow made by Ms Ayano! Its free to enter and photos can be taken anytime in the previous year, and will be printed out by event staff. The contest is judged about 2 or 3pm.
For more info, check the
Events Page.
Scarecrow Making Workshop
For those who want a truely unique hands-on experience, take part in one of Ms. Ayano's Scarecrow Making Workshops. Her 3 hour classes held at the old Kindergarden mainly focus on sewing the head which you can take home with you. She will also show how to construct the body.
A regularly scheduled class is held on the 4th Wednesday of every month (Apr-Nov) from 1:00pm - 4:00pm for a fee of ¥3000 per person. Private workshops can also be arranged and reserved, but they can only be done by calling Ms. Ayano by phone at 090-8659-4691. And do note that she only speaks Japanese, and no English.