Tono: Castle Town History and Folktales

Nabekura Park adds a seasonal landscape to this picture.

Castle Site and the History of the Castle Town

The Nabekura Castle Site lies on the southern edge of Tōno’s urban area, on 344-meter-high Mount Nabekura. This extensive medieval mountain castle comprises several sections. It was designated a National Historic Site of Japan on March 20, 2023. Here, you can encounter the medieval castle site; the Tōno Castle Town Museum, by contrast, focuses on Tōno’s later history as a prosperous castle town during the Edo period.

The museum displays clothing and weapons belonging to the Tōno Nanbu family, as well as household items. Other exhibits and materials cover the street layout and defensive structures of the castle town, including bent streets and masugata fortifications. The focus is therefore not just on individual objects, but also on how street layouts and defenses feature in the town’s history. If you are interested in historic settlement patterns, the museum offers a concrete way to explore this part of the area’s history.

Another historical thread leads to the former Kōzen Ryokan, also known as Ryōō-juku. Today, it houses the Yanagita-Kunio Exhibition Hall and is registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property. Here, the inn’s former name and its present role as an exhibition hall sit side by side. If you are planning a visit, check the latest visitor information in advance.

Folktales and Books

The Tōno Folktale Museum presents Tōno’s folktales and culture through sound and video. It is housed in a converted former sake brewery. In this way, stories and audiovisual interpretation have their own place among the area’s cultural offerings, alongside the history and artifacts of the castle town.

Kodomohon no Mori Tōno is a book-focused cultural facility on the grounds of the former Mitaya. Its exterior faithfully recreates the appearance of the Mitaya, whose original building was established in 1900. The books are organized around 13 themes, including picture books, children’s and young adult literature, early children’s stories, reference books, photo collections, art books, and books from abroad. The themes thus range from stories to reference works and illustrated books. The facility is operated by the City of Tōno and is open to everyone without a reservation. As conditions of use may change, check them before planning a visit.

At the Tōno Municipal Museum, you can research field information, relevant books, and field maps related to Tōno. This complements the museums focused on specific topics by offering materials that let you explore the region in a targeted way.

Nabekura Park and Views Over Tōno

Nabekura Park is used by residents as a place to relax and is known for its cherry blossoms in spring. Nambu Shrine is on the middle slope of Mount Nabekura and offers views over the city of Tōno. Together, these details point to two distinct aspects of the landscape: seasonal blossoms in the park and views from the middle slope. When choosing what to focus on during your trip, you can consider whether castle town history, books and stories, or views of Tōno matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Ōshū, Ichinoseki, Ofunato, Waga District, Miyako, Rikuzentakata, Hachimantai, Iwaizumi

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