Tono Tourism Association Official Website

REPORT 01

AERIA TONO

あえりあ遠野

One of the best hotels in downtown Tono. Great views of both the city and surrounding mountains, as well as the Nanbu-Jinja (Shrine) nestled behind the hotel. Close to the station, museums and restored buildings downtown so a great platform to start your journey from, and to relax and refresh at the end of the day.Families or larger groups, should take the Japanese style tatami room to get some extra space and the views of the courtyard garden.

• Look for another inn

REPORT 02

TONO MUNICIPAL MUSEUM

遠野市立博物館

Here you can learn about Tono’s rich history dating back over a thousand years – both the actual version and through the famous Legends of Tono.
You can easily spend over an hour here wandering around the displays, and watching the videos.

They have tablets and headsets you can rent that have detailed explanations in a number of languages.
Look for the kappa river sprites hiding amongst the diorama and other displays.

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REPORT 03

WANDERING THE TOWN〜
AND LUNCH!

まちなか散策〜昼食

Downtown Tono has some of the most beautifully preserved buildings of any rural city in Japan.
There are a number of old houses and storehouses, or kura, around the river. The area has been wonderfully restored and some of the sake storehouses have been renovated and converted into the Tono Folktale Museum, which includes the Folktale Kura, the Takazen Ryokan, and the home where Kunio Yanagita stayed in his retirement. It is the perfect place to enjoy just wandering through.

Tono is a quiet country town, away from the crowds and bustle of Tokyo or Kyoto, but you lose nothing in the beauty of the streetscape here, and you get to enjoy it at your own pace.

Must try!
Tono is on the main road from the coast to the major inland cities, so it has access to some of the best seafood. The sushi at Sushi Kimura is fresh, exquisitely presented and tastes wonderful. Sunken floor in the tatami room also make it comfortable for everyone.

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• Look for another restaurant

REPORT 04

WANDERING THE TOWN〜
AND HAYASEGAWA RIVER

まちなか散策〜早瀬川

Another benefit of being a country town is being able to enjoy yourself along the river - watch out for the kappa of course.
Tono is located in the basin created by the Sarukaishigawa River, where it splits off with the Hayasegawa River, so there are lots of places to relax, play, have BBQs, skip stones and so on – again, all at your own pace.

REPORT 05

TSUZUKIISHI STONES

続石

Another one of Tono’s power spots, and one of the best. A natural yet surreal rock formation, the rock balanced on top - seven meters long, five meters wide and two meters thick - is believed by some to be a “landing spot” of the gods. Located 15 minutes by car from Tono station, this and the other stone outcrops nearby are a great 15 minute walk from the carpark below. Um, watch out for bears.

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REPORT 06

TAYA-NO-OSUGI

田屋の大杉

An ancient cedar tree believed to be 1500 years old, another one of the best power spots in Tono.
Only a 2 minute drive from the Tsuzukuishi stone outcrop. The tree is a designated natural monument, and is also worshiped by the locals as a Shinto god.
Another one of Tono’s many wondrous and mystical locations.