A Self-Guided Walking Tour Miyoshi City's Old Town Legend

Miyoshi City sits at the confluence of three rivers in Hiroshima Prefecture. Its geography made it a thriving trade hub, with a foggy mountain landscape that gave rise to a rich tradition of folklore. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll follow the old Iwami Ginzan Roadway – once used to transport silver that represented a third of the world's supply – through a castle town where history and supernatural legend blur at the edges. The tour starts at Miyoshi Station's cormorant fishing monument, a nod to the city's 450 year continuous practice of the folk tradition. You'll encounter the legend of Heitarō Inō, the unflinching teenager harassed by supernatural creatures for thirty straight nights. Along the way, you'll visit Dasai Shrine, where three deities are enshrined together. The tour ends at the Yumoto Koichi Memorial Japan Yokai Museum, Japan's first museum dedicated to yōkai, housing over 5,000 artefacts.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Pass by

   Spot one of Miyoshi City's regional manhole designs near Kakuzenji Temple, founded in the late 1500s. You'll pause at this centuries-old temple, a quiet marker of the castle town's long religious history.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   Pass by

   See the cormorant fishing inlet where evening sightseeing boats set out on the Basen River from June through September. You'll stand at the launch point of a folk tradition practiced continuously in Miyoshi for 450 years.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   Cross the red Tomoe Bridge into Miyoshimachi, the gateway to the city's historic castle town. You'll leave the modern station behind as cobblestone streets and mononoke lanterns come into view ahead.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   Pass by

   Discover the legend of Heitarō Inō, the unflinching teenager harassed by supernatural creatures for thirty straight nights. You'll learn how this ghost story reflected real anxieties as Miyoshi's silver-trade prosperity began to fade.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   Browse shops and exhibits displaying Miyoshi's distinctive hand-glazed clay dolls. You'll uncover a craft tradition tied closely to the city's folklore and local identity.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Pass by

   Visit Sanshoji Temple, home to a castle gate relocated from Higumayama when the fortress fell into ruin. You'll walk beneath a structure that carried the memory of a lost stronghold into a new home.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   Pass by

   Pass the former Masunoi Sake Brewery, a preserved Edo-period building along the old trade roadway. You'll picture the brewing trade that once thrived alongside Miyoshi's silver commerce.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   Pass by

   Explore Dasai Shrine, where three deities, including the great-grandfather of Japan's first emperor, are enshrined together. You'll hear a story that explains why human lives are as beautiful and fleeting as cherry blossoms.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   Pass by

   End at the Yumoto Koichi Memorial Japan Yokai Museum, Japan's first museum dedicated to yōkai. You'll wander among over 5,000 artifacts celebrating the supernatural folklore woven throughout Miyoshi's history.

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.