Month: December 2024

This white-walled Resource and Study Centre exhibits various artifacts related to Yanai’s history, folklore and traditional cultures. Visitors can see many old tools, household goods and vintage goldfish-shaped lanterns, as well as the information regarding Doppo Kunikida, a great Japanese novelist of the Meiji period. The centre sometimes holds workshops called “Shirakabe Onando Juku” so that local people will be able to join and learn about the historical aspect of Yanai.

Yamaguchi Flower Land is a park with beautiful flowers and greenery, surrounded by history and nature. There is an open space with grass where all the family can enjoy playing with balls and other play equipment. The park offers a pressed flower workshop making straps and coasters and also a gardening workshop. You can buy flowers and small goods at the gift shop and enjoy lunch and dinner at the restaurant next to the shop. Why not join a special tour with our park guide! (Reservation is required.)

On the way from Kongouji-shita (near the Kongo-ji Temple) up to Mt. Mitsugatake forest road, you will find Rokudou Jizou (a stone statue of Buddha as a savior in the 6 Buddhist realms of existence) carved into a large rock wall and Kongosui, a spring of water which comes up from underneath it. Since ancient times, it has been believed that the sacred spring water would provide special power to cure any intractable diseases and plagues. Many people stop by during hiking/trekking on their way to Mt. Mitsugatake.

The Kunimori Residence was built in the mid-Edo period (the late 18th century) and remains unchanged up until today. The Kunimori Family was one of the most wealthy merchants in Yanai, engaged in business and trading of lamp oil and hair oil. Their residence is one of the rare types of white-walled merchant houses during the Edo period because the white plastered 2-story storehouse has its entrance in one of the gable ends. It is constructed with a hip-and-gable roofing method, where square and round slates are laid alternately. The builders’ creative contrivances to prepare for the frequent fires and the prevention of burglars and robbery are must see technique.

*Currently, tours are only available from outside.

Shoko-an is a temple of the Soto Zen Sect, which has a legend that the area name of “Yanai” is originally derived from the willow tree planted there. About 1,400 years ago, the Princess Hannya, a daughter of a local wealthy man, Manono Choja in Bungo (the south of Oita) was struck by a terrible storm in the off shore of Heigun Island on her way to Kyoto to reunite with the Prince Tachibanano Toyohi (later Emperor Yohmei). Because of this, she was forced to sail back to the shore of Yanaitsu. There, she asked a local man to give her fresh water. She was so pleased with the well water that she put a tiny willow branch next to the well to express her gratitude. The branch sprouted and grew to be a large willow tree overnight. According to the folklore, people say that the well water will make your body and spirit as beautiful and pure as the Princess Hannya. This temple is also famous for a statue of Kokūzō Bosatsu (Bodhisattva of Wisdom & Memory), one of the only three existing statues in Japan, which you can see in the hall on the west side of the temple.

This brick tower house is located in the center of Yanai’s Retro Street. A large disc music box is displayed so that all visitors will be able to enjoy various pieces of music composed by Mr. Isao Hashimoto, the only music box composer in Japan. This music box is a specially-constructed instrument using as many as 50 comb teeth, as compared to the usual 35. Their calm soothing sounds bring warmth to the hearts of all people passing by.