Fukusaki, Hyōgo
Fukusaki
福崎町 | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Flag  Chapter | |
 Location of Fukusaki in Hyōgo Prefecture | |
  Fukusaki Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 34°57′N 134°46′E / 34.950°N 134.767°ECoordinates: 34°57′N 134°46′E / 34.950°N 134.767°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kansai |
| Prefecture | Hyōgo Prefecture |
| District | Kanzaki |
| Area | |
| • Total | 45.82 km2 (17.69 sq mi) |
| Population (June 30, 2021) | |
| • Total | 18,928 |
| • Density | 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| Website | www |
Fukusaki (福崎町, Fukusaki-chō) is a town in Kanzaki District, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.
As of June 30, 2021 the town had an estimated population of 18,928 and a density of 410 persons per km².[1] The total area is 45.82 km².
Yokai[]
Kunio Yanagita (1875–1962) Was born in Fukusaki, and due to his importance in the study of Japanese folklore, the town has a number of yokai sculptures. In Tsujikawayama Park there are currently five statues whose designs were chosen through "The National Yokai Modeling contest".[2]
A total of 17 "Yokai benches" also exist within the town. As a way to create tourism, these benches were created and placed near local businesses and other points of interest.[3]
Transportation system[]
The Bantan Line is bound from Himeji to . The local train station is Fukusaki Station.
The Shinki bus line is bound from Fukusaki to Himeji.
The route 312 and the Bantan highway connect Himeji and Fukusaki.
There is a Fukusaki intersection in the Chugoku highway which connects Osaka to Yamaguchi.
Schools[]
There are four elementary schools, two junior high schools, one senior high school and a welfare university. In addition, there are four preschools and four kindergartens:
- Kinki Health Welfare University
- Fukusaki Senior High School
- Fukusaki Nishi Junior High School
- Fukusaki Higashi Junior High School
- Fukusaki Elementary School
- Tawara Elementary School
- Takaoka Elementary School
- Yachikusa Elementary School
Festivals[]
There are two Major festivals: the Autumn Festival and Summer Festival.
During the Autumn Festival, young men carry a portable shrine and pray for a good harvest. These young men often wear 'happi'.
The Summer Festival is held on the 9th of August at the playground of Fukusaki Junior High School. There are fireworks displayed, bon dancing and drum performances. As well as food/game stalls.
Sightseeing[]
Kunio Yanagita's house and Matsuoka family memorial museum[]
The house of folklorist Kunio Yanagita and memorial hall to his brothers is located in Fukusaki. He wrote about his house in one of his books, Kokyou Nanajunen (70 years in hometown): "It was the smallest house in [his] hometown." The book also describes Gataro (ガタロ), a kappa. The municipal government of Fukusaki installed a mechanical kappa statue that pops out of a pond in Tsujikawa Yama Park to attract tourists. In 2015, the government went on to design a kappa costume for the character Gajiro (ガジロウ), who is said to be the younger brother of Gataro. Gajiro has since been adopted as the mascot of Fukusaki.[4][5]
Yanagita had four brothers. One of the younger brother's name is Teruo (), a famous Japanese traditional painter. Some of his paintings are shown in the museum.
The anniversary day of Yanagita's death is held at the Santou-Ki Haiku Festival.
Kanzaki-gun museum of history and customs[]
The museum is a western-style building built in 1886. It was renovated in 1972 to a museum for keeping and promoting the development of culture.
House of the Miki family[]
The Miki House belonged to the great chief of Fukusaki. It is said that Kunio Yanagita read thousands of books from this family when he was a child.
Suzunomori shrine[]
Suzunomori shrine is in the Tsujikawa region, near Kunio Yanagita's house.
Restaurants[]
- Ringo no Ki (gallery and tea room): near the Ichikawa river. English garden cafe, they serve handmade cake and bread. They hold many culture clubs such as flower arrangement, yoga and Okinawa traditional guitar-sanshin classes.
- Les Beaux Provence (restaurant-cafe): near the Town Hall. They have many kinds of lunch; they serve handmade cakes.
- Kurosuke (izakaya pub): near Fukusaki-kita Interchange. Separate rooms so people can drink in a cozy atmosphere.
- Araken (izakaya pub): near Fukusaki station. They have many kinds of "sho-chu" and "sake".
- Ajisai (izakaya pub): near the Chugoku Highway. They serve fresh raw fish.
References[]
- ^ "Official website of Fukusaki Town" (in Japanese). Japan: Fukusaki Town. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ^ "福崎町柳田國男妖怪企画 第5回全国妖怪造形コンテスト". 福崎町柳田國男妖怪企画 第5回全国妖怪造形コンテスト. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ^ "福崎町の妖怪たち | 福崎町". www.town.fukusaki.hyogo.jp. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ^ "Hyogo town woos tourists with 'creepy' monster mascot". The Mainichi. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ "福崎町の妖怪たち" [Yōkai in Fukusaki Town]. Town of Fukusaki. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
External links[]
Media related to Fukusaki, Hyōgo at Wikimedia Commons
Geographic data related to Fukusaki, Hyōgo at OpenStreetMap- Fukusaki official website (in Japanese)
Geographic data related to 
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- Towns in Hyōgo Prefecture