FUKUSAKI, Hyogo -- Benches featuring Japanese yokai monsters are attracting many local residents and tourists as photo spots in Fukusaki, Hyogo Prefecture.
Fukusaki is the home of folklorist Kunio Yanagita (1875-1962), and the local government has promoted itself through initiatives related to yokai monsters. As a key new attraction, the town installed seven benches on which yokai monster figures are sitting. The town has also created a map showing the location of each bench.
"We hope people will enjoy walking, taking photos and shopping in the town with the help of the map while visiting the yokai monsters," said a town official in charge of the initiative.
Instagram-worthy
The yokai monsters featured on the benches are Neko Mata (cat monster), Abura Sumashi (oil thief monster who pretends to be innocent), Ittan Momen (cotton cloth monster), Hitotsume Kozo (child monster with one eye), Umi Bozu (monster living in the sea), Oni (demon) and Yuki Onna (snow woman).
Large figures of the yokai sit on the 1.6-meter-long benches, providing enough space for people to sit next to them and take photos.
The local government is promoting the benches as spots where visitors can take photos that will look good on Instagram, in a bid to boost consumption by attracting tourists.
Designed by the winners of an annual yokai creative contest that the town government began in fiscal 2014, the town government entrusted production of the benches to a firm that manufactures large figures in Yao, Osaka Prefecture, at a cost of 10 million yen.
The seven benches have been installed in various places around Fukusaki, including in front of a coffee shop and a sushi restaurant. Five more benches will be added in fiscal 2018.
Follow the map
Referring to the benches, Fukusaki Mayor Shozo Hashimoto said: "There are various yokai monsters now on display. Some of them make people laugh, while others are scary. I hope they'll attract many people and contribute to the promotion of regional development."
Children and their parents have been enjoying the benches, and many tourists are taking photos with them around the town, according to the mayor. Local residents are also interested.
A bench featuring a Neko Mata monster sits in front of a meat shop. A senior managing director of the shop said: "We hope the adorable look [of the yokai] will attract many customers. We want to plan to make new products featuring Neko Mata."
The town also released an online map for an about 3.6-kilometer walking route for visiting nine yokai benches in the town, including ones featuring Gajiro, a monster modeled after kappa, a creature from folklore, as well as a tengu goblin. These two benches were installed close to JR Fukusaki Station in March last year.
The map is available on the website of the town's tourist association. After the installment of an additional five benches in fiscal 2018, the town plans to issue paper maps for distribution.
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