Tono's Story House

Tono's Story House, located in Tono City in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, serves as a cultural facility dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich folklore traditions of the Tono region. The museum takes its inspiration from "Tono Monogatari" (The Legends of Tono), a landmark collection of folktales compiled by Kunio Yanagita in 1910. This seminal work documented oral traditions passed down through generations in rural Tono, establishing Yanagita as the father of Japanese folklore studies and making Tono synonymous with Japanese folk legends and supernatural tales.

The facility showcases the region's most famous folklore characters and stories, including the kappa (water-dwelling creatures), zashiki-warashi (child spirits believed to bring good fortune to households), and oshira-sama (household deities). Through multimedia presentations, dioramas, and traditional storytelling sessions, visitors gain insight into how these legends shaped local culture and daily life in historical rural Japan. The museum also explores how folklore traditions connected communities to their natural environment and agricultural cycles.

Visitors can experience traditional storytelling sessions where local narrators recount Tono's legends in atmospheric settings that recreate the ambiance of gathering around hearths in old farmhouses. The facility includes exhibition spaces displaying folkcraft items, historical photographs, and artistic interpretations of legendary creatures. Interactive displays allow guests to learn about the customs, beliefs, and seasonal festivals that grew from these oral traditions. Some programs offer opportunities to try traditional crafts or participate in cultural activities related to the folklore themes.

Tono's Story House is accessible from Tono Station on the JR Kamaishi Line, approximately 10 minutes by car or taxi. Limited bus services also connect the station to the museum area. Admission fees are generally around ¥500 for adults, with discounts available for children and groups, though visitors should confirm current pricing before visiting. The facility provides an essential introduction to understanding Tono's cultural landscape and works well as a starting point before exploring other folklore-related sites scattered throughout the surrounding countryside.