Tales Of Tono

Gaze, feel and taste the mountains where folk beliefs linger, the village where the people live, and the places where folk tales are based. First, stroll freely around the otherworld in Tōno, feeling the terroir. Tōno is larger than even Tokyo, so depending on where you'd like to go, it is recommended to use rented bicycles, cars, buses or taxis to get around. Maps and information about transportation can be found at the Tōno Tourist Association in front of Tōno Station. You can also get information about accommodation and routes.

Learning about the history is an important element of getting to know the area. Tōno City Museum is the first museum in Japan focusing on folklore studies and is a treasure trove of knowledge. You can enjoy high-quality permanent and temporary exhibitions. For detailed information, talk with the very knowledgeable curators. Also, you can get the help of private organisations like Tomikawa-ya, a group that promotes the cultural appeals of Tōno through publishing and design. It's important to find out about a wide range of things, but the key is to learn what you are interested in now and find the essential information you need.

To understand the area better and gain stronger inspiration, let's listen to the firsthand stories of the people living in this region and go to places where tales originated. Tōno has many guides, coordinators and storytellers who have a deep knowledge of the regional culture and history. Clearer hints of various motifs will emerge by actively exploring the site with them. Let's feel the otherworld on the border where human and non-human beings interact.

There are sights and scenes you can only find if you stay for a while, join the local performing groups, or decide to migrate. These scenes give the energy to conduct more fruitful research and creation. Repeat these fieldwork activities: A. direct experience, B. indirect experience, and C. participatory observation to find the beginning of your action. In this project, Tales of Tono, we are preparing residency programs for research and creation. We'd like to welcome people to be active in this area, creating a new culture and collaborating together.