Nagoro, a remote hamlet in the Iya Valley, has become internationally famous for the lifelike scarecrow figures—now numbering in the hundreds—created by resident Ayano Tsukimi to represent villagers who have passed away or moved to cities. Each autumn the valley hosts folk cultural events alongside the permanent scarecrow installation, including traditional indigo dyeing (Awa-ai), vine-weaving workshops, and regional cuisine showcases featuring Iya soba and river fish. The surrounding mountainsides blaze in vivid koyo autumn colour, making this a visually extraordinary cultural immersion. Guided walks led by local inhabitants bring the stories behind each scarecrow to life.
- Type
- Experience
- Category
- Culture
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- October–November
- Region
- Shikoku
- Prefecture
- Tokushima
- City
- Miyoshi
Highlights
- ◆Hundreds of lifelike scarecrow figures by Ayano Tsukimi
- ◆Traditional Awa-ai indigo dyeing workshops
- ◆Iya soba and river fish regional food tasting
- ◆Dramatic autumn foliage backdrop in the gorge
- ◆Guided storytelling walks with local residents