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What is your favourite place in Japan?
Hi, I’m Caitlin, and I just started working for the US office of InsideJapan. When asked about my favourite place in Japan I can never come up with just one answer. So many jump into my head, from Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido to Himeji’s best ramen shop, ‘Koba & More’, and the various venues that make up the music scene in Kobe. Today, I want to talk a little about what’s so great about the little town I lived in for 3 years, Aioi.
Aioi is a little city in south western Hyogo Prefecture, just 20 minutes away from Himeji and its beautiful castle on the JR Sanyo Line. At first glance there’s not much to do in Aioi—unlike many small cities, it doesn’t even have a shopping arcade near the station. But day-to-day life in Aioi is very charming, and it’s festivals are hidden treasures.
In late May, when it’s starting to feel like summer without the stickiness that comes post-rainy season, dragon boats line up in the harbour in preparation for the Peron Festival. The festival is two days long, and these dragon boats will race on the mornings of both days. There’s also a fantastic parade where the locals dress up as samurai and ninjas!
But the real main event is the fireworks show, which happens on the first night. So many people gather to watch these fireworks shoot up from the harbour that some have to take their seats two miles away! As soon as the show ends, the train station is just as packed as Tokyo on a weekday morning. If you’re staying in Himeji, it’s a better idea to stop by a bar or an izakaya for a drink and take a later train than to brave the post-show crowds.
Another lovely event is the Autumn Leaves festival in early November, which is more often referred to by locals as the Scarecrow Festival. In the weeks before this quiet celebration of the season, Aioi’s students, workers, and farmers carefully construct scarecrows representing their favourite persons and characters from the past year. Local politicians walk around and judge the scarecrows, and the winners get a small monetary prize. It’s a fascinating opportunity to see some amateur art and get a feel for what is popular in Japan!
It may not be the most exciting place to go, but I think Aioi has a lot to offer those who are curious about real daily life in Japan.