Tono City, Iwate

Tono is renowned in Japan for its rich heritage of folklore. Since ancient times, the people in this area have passed down traditional stories of enchantment, mountain deities and supernatural beings. About 100 years ago, those tales were collected and published in a book, "The Legends of Tono." The countryside here is dotted with ancient stone monuments and hidden shrines, and the landscape feels strangely alive with the world of mysterious folk legends. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, JJ explores this area by bicycle. He goes to a local shrine dedicated to the deities of love and marriage. He also visits Tono Furusato Village to hear a traditional storytelling session.