Our company is located in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture. There are many interesting things to see and do in Mino City.

Mino City prides itself on its beautiful nature.

Please come and take a look at the bountiful nature here in Mino City.

Oyada Shrine

Oyada Shrine is set amoung a forested parcel of land. Originally, Oyada Shrine was known as Gyuto Emperial Shrine.

However during the Warring States Period or the Sengoku Era, this shrine was destroyed in 1556.

The only structure to remain was the elaborate gate.

The main shrine was rebuilt in 1672.

The detailed painted carvings of the main shrine were designated an important National Cultural Asset in 1989.

Due to the rare build of this shrine, it was designated a national cultural asset.

In the shrine there are many valuable historical materials, such as sixteen Buddhist figurines, the Zenjoji Temple Bell, a statue of Kobo Daishi, a prominent figure in Zen Buddhism, and many other important historical items.

Hinkoko Festival

About Hinkoko Festival

These images capture the autumn colors of late November when the Hinkoko Festival is held around November 23 at Oyada Shrine in Mino City.

This festival’s natural setting is recognized as an Intangible Cultural Asset when combined with Oyada Shrine.

This festival is known for its simple puppet show which includes music provided by flutes.

The puppet show is the main event of Hinkoko Festival.

At the Festival Venue

This festival is held in November at the peak of the autumn leaves.
So this venue becomes crowded with a lot of people.

About the Puppet Show

Long, long ago, there was a large snake called Orochi. Orochi attacked many wheat farmers and ate them.

Then a warrior-god named Susa came to help the farmers.

He attacked Orochi and killed him.

To this day, farmers still pray to Susa for a good harvest. Each year, this puppet show is done to re-tell this story.

The word “hinkoko” is not from any written word, but it is believed to have come from the sound of a flute that sounds similar to “hinkoko chai-koko chai-chai-hoi”. So hinkoko is the shortened version of this flute sound.

The Walkway of the Venue

The walkway of the venue is beautifully adorned by the maple trees in their fall colors.

Not only just local people visit this shrine for the festival, but many others from far away also come to visit here each year.

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Some Examples of Udatsu Roofing.
( These are nationally designated as an Important Cultural Asset. )

About Udatsu Roofing

Originally intended as a firewall, the udatsu, eventually became elaborate art pieces that symbolized the affluence of wealthy merchants.

Udatsu are a characteristic of roofs on old Japanese long houses .

They acted as firewalls to protect one home or business from
another in the advent of a fire . Also they distinguished one business or home from each other.

So each udatsu is different in design from the next.

Over time, they became more elaborate as the merchants

became wealthier.

There are 19 houses with the udatsu roofing that remain today in this area.

Very few historical houses remain throughout Japan, so it is quite rare to
have so many in one place.

Today we are able to connect to the past by walking through this area.
Wouldn’t you like to stroll through history in this old neighborhood?

In Udatsu Town in Mino City, these buildings in olden times were
Mino-washi wholesalers, sake breweries, and inns.

Even today, you can still find many contemporary shops have replaced
the older shops in their continued use.

Also there are many shops that can trace their use to the Edo Era.
The owners may have changed but not their production of washi paper
for example.

In old times, all houses and businesses were connected in long row houses.

They were separated by firewalls that extended up from the roof like
a mini wall. These were called “udatsu”.

These unique houses can still be seen in Mino City today.

These udatsu high walls were different for each house.

In the beginning, the udatsu were simple and utilitarian, but, by and by,
the udatsu became an object of art to symboliz the affluence of
wealthy merchants.