The Town Of Fukusaki｜The Town of Glutinous Barley & Yōkai

The Town Of Fukusaki

— The Town of Glutinous Barley & Yōkai —

Author: Richard Perkins
Photos/Videos Taken: 2025/08/23
Address: Fukusaki, Hyogo Prefecture

In Japan, they have what are known as 妖怪 (yōkai). These are folklore, a variety of folk beliefs, and so on, passed down for generations through legends and stories. Although they’re often described as “Japanese monsters”, some take human form, while others appear as animals, and they exist in a wide variety of shapes and forms. As such, simply calling them Japanese monsters doesn’t fully capture what yōkai are. However, yōkai don’t just exist in stories; they can be found throughout Japan. One town where yōkai can be found is Fukusaki, Hyogo Prefecture.

Fukusaki, Hyogo Prefecture, is known as “The Town of Glutinous Barley and Yōkai”. Stepping into this town, one will find yōkai throughout the area. Here, yōkai are used to attract tourists and help revitalize the town. To increase tourism, yōkai have been placed throughout the town, and the entire town has been given a yōkai theme. However, there’s a reason yōkai are used to revitalize the town. This town actually has a deep connection with them. Kunio Yanagita was a Japanese scholar who devoted his life to studying Japanese folklore. In addition to making significant contributions to the field, he grew up in (the town of) Fukusaki. As mentioned, yōkai are said to have originated in folklore and folk beliefs. In his research into Japanese folklore, Kunio Yanagita also studied yōkai. This research played an important role in the development of Japanese folklore studies.

The town of Fukusaki is also known as the “Town of Glutinous Barley” because glutinous barley (sticky/chewy barley) is grown here. Often used to make noodles, this local speciality gives this town (one of) its nicknames.

For those visiting (the town of) Fukusaki by public transportation, Fukusaki Station is the place to get off. Just outside the station, one will find one of the most common and well-known types of yōkai: a 河童 (kappa). In front of the station is a tube-shaped aquarium. Every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., this kappa appears; it greets locals and tourists alike. Honestly, this kappa can't be considered cute, but one doesn’t normally get to see one up close. It’s a strange yet fascinating sight that one will want to stop and watch for a while.

About a 21-minute walk from Fukusaki Station is the Fukusaki Town Tsujikawa Tourism Exchange Center. Here, one will find more yōkai than one can count. There’s a (seemingly) endless number of yōkai figures on display, all so detailed that they almost look real. Along with these figures, one can also buy souvenirs and relax at the café. One can take a break surrounded by yōkai. Outside the building, one will find several life-sized yōkai statues. These statues give the chance to see what yōkai actually look like. They also make for some fantastic photographs. The Fukusaki Town Tsujikawa Tourism Exchange Center isn’t just for yōkai lovers; there’s something for everyone. This place is a lot of fun.

A bit further from the Fukusaki Town Tsujikawa Tourism Exchange Center, roughly a 5-minute walk away, is Tsujikawayama Park. This is, without a doubt, the most notable part of (the town of) Fukusaki. In this park is a small lake where one can find another kappa. Known as 河次郎 (kajirō), this kappa appears every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., just like the kappa outside Fukusaki Station. It’s believed that kappa live in lakes. Seeing Kajirō emerge from the lake is like watching a real kappa appear. It looks incredibly realistic. Kajirō was completed and placed in this lake in February 2014. This particular kappa slowly made the town of Fukusaki into a sightseeing destination. From there, yōkai began appearing all across the town.

In Tsujikawayama Park, one will find yet another yōkai, a 天狗 (tengu). Known as the “Upside-Down Tengu at the Yōkai Hut”, this yōkai can be found at the end of the park in a small hut. Every 15 minutes from 9:05 a.m. to 6:05 p.m., the tengu emerges from its hut. Hanging (as its name implies) upside-down on a wire, it really looks as if it’s flying. As with the other yōkai in this town, it’s very detailed and lifelike. This tengu is fascinating; one will want to watch it emerge from its hut over and over again.

Along with the train station, Tourism Exchange Center, and park, one will find many yōkai statues throughout the town of Fukusaki. One’ll find many yōkai benches throughout the town, starting with the kappa sitting on a bench playing 将棋 (shōgi—a Japanese board game resembling chess), which can be found outside the Fukusaki Town Tsujikawa Tourism Exchange Center and was the first of these statues to be built. The yōkai here, all sitting on these benches, are distinctive, each with a unique design. Using the yōkai bench map prepared by the town of Fukusaki makes it easy to find them. This town isn’t very big, but with many attractions, such as these statues, there’s much to enjoy. This is a great place to wander and sightsee at a leisurely pace. As mentioned above, even those without much knowledge of yōkai will have a great time here. When next in Hyogo Prefecture, why not visit the town of Fukusaki and check out the yōkai that lurk here?