Discover Miyoshi: Yōkai, Puppet Art, and History

Culture Between Yōkai and Puppet Art

Miyoshi brings together exhibitions about Japanese yōkai, puppet art, historic buildings, and places steeped in tradition. For a culturally focused stay, you can explore several themes: how yōkai are perceived, the works of puppet artist Tsujimura Jūsaburō, and the history of Miyoshi-chō. Temples, historic lanes, and viewpoints add to the experience. This lets you decide whether collections, local history, or scenery should be the focus of your trip.

The permanent exhibition “Japanese Yōkai” at the Miyoshi Mononoke Museum features materials about Japanese yōkai. It provides a systematic overview of how yōkai have been perceived and depicted in everyday life. The exhibition thus considers both the motifs and how they have been perceived and depicted in daily life.

The Tsujimura Jūsaburō Puppet Museum preserves and exhibits works and related materials from the early through the late stages of the artist’s career. It is housed in the former headquarters of Miyoshi Bank, a building constructed in 1927 and registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. The Miyoshi City Museum of History and Folklore is now located on the second floor of the same building. The museum’s setting thus brings puppet art together with another perspective on history and folklore.

Temples and Historic Lanes

Hoogenji Temple in Miyoshi-chō was established in 1633 by Asano Nagaharu, the first head of the Miyoshi-Asano domain, as the Asano family’s ancestral temple. The grounds include a memorial tower for Akuri-hime, later known as Yōsen-in, and a hall containing wooden figures of the 47 Akō rōnin. Here, the history of the Asano family, a memorial site, and a dedicated hall of figures offer distinct historical points of interest.

Miyoshi-chō also preserves machiya townhouses with udatsu roof extensions, historic lanes, and numerous historic sites and cultural properties. The udatsu roof extensions make the architectural style of the machiya a distinctive detail, while the lanes and other cultural properties broaden the view from individual buildings to the historic townscape. The local highlights also differ: the former bank building connects puppet art with urban history and folklore, while Hoogenji Temple carries the history of its role as the Asano family’s ancestral temple.

Summits, Views, and Seasonal Highlights

A highlight of Miyoshi-chō is the profuse bloom of the weeping cherry tree on the grounds of Hoogenji Temple. At the summit of Mount Higuma is Tatariishi, associated with the yōkai picture scroll “Inō Mononoke Roku.” Allow 30 to 40 minutes to reach the summit from Dasai Shrine, Hoogenji Temple, or a path behind Kisshōin. Walking times may vary depending on conditions.

Mount Higuma combines the climb with a cultural point of interest at the summit. By contrast, the summit of Ozekiyama Park has an observation deck with wide-ranging views across the city of Miyoshi. The two summits can therefore be distinguished by their respective highlights: Tatariishi, associated with the yōkai picture scroll, at one; views over the city at the other.

The Miyoshi Mononoke Festival is held annually in Miyoshi-chō. A procession of yōkai moves through the town and visits Dasai Shrine. The yōkai theme thus features both in the permanent exhibition and in the procession. Check the exact event dates before your trip.

Discover more travel destinations: Mihara, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Sera, Kurogawa, Kure, Fukuyama, Onomichi

For the broader travel overview: Hiroshima Prefecture.