Kappa welcomes you to Tanushimaru, where the leaves of persimmon trees change color.

The town with the most kappas in Japan is a town of seasonal fruits

Tanushimaru-cho, Kurume City, located in the southeastern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, is a place rich in nature, spread out at the foot of the Mino Mountain Range and between the majestic Chikugo River. It is also one of the prefecture's leading fruit-growing areas.
Many seasonal fruits are produced here: strawberries in the spring, grapes and figs from early to late summer, and persimmons in the fall, and the fruit fields signal the changing of the seasons. Tanushimaru Town also has a long history of producing plants, so the fields where saplings and plants are grown are beautifully integrated into the landscape.

The "Mountain Bao Road" has different charms in different seasons.

Recommended for driving is the "Yamazuno-michi" (read "Mountain Bound Road"), which runs parallel to Prefectural Road 151 (Ukiba-Kusano Kurume Route) between the Mino Mountain Range and the Mino Mountain Range. In autumn, the persimmon fields are beautiful as the leaves of the persimmon trees turn red along with the autumn leaves of the Mino Mountain Range.
Numerous tourist farms are scattered along both sides of the road, where visitors can enjoy seasonal fruit picking.

The 6-kilometer-long "Mountain Package Road" is an attractive walking trail that offers the unique elevation differences of a mountain trail and its seasonal scenery. There are many tourist farms along the road on either side, making it a busy place in each season.


In 1995, the name of the road was chosen from among 333 entries from the general public in order to make it a sightseeing spot where visitors can enjoy beautiful scenery rich in nature. The name was chosen from a phrase in the Tale of Genji (The Tale of Genji), which says, "The autumn leaves are wrapped in straw.
Over the past 30 years, the area has become well known to many people, and with the installation of restrooms as a rest stop, more and more people enjoy walking around the area as well as driving around.
Along the road, wineries and shochu distilleries, as well as fashionable cafes and restaurants, have increased in number. The unattended sales of seasonal fruits are also very attractive and make you want to take a peek.
Around the cherry blossom season, it is also beautiful to see trees blooming in competition with spring wild flowers. Kurume is a recommended driving course where you can enjoy strolling and exploring cherry blossom viewing spots and old temples.

Kofun Girls Think Back to Ancient Times at a Popular Park

Although it may not be well known, Tanushimaru Town has many ancient tombs.
Among them, the Otsuka tumulus is one of the Tanushimaru tumulus group, a nationally designated historic site.
The mound is a typical shape of a kofun tumulus, with a total length of 103 m and a diameter of 60 m. Based on the shape of the mound and excavated artifacts, it is estimated to have been constructed in the late 6th century. It is thought to have been the largest in Kyushu at the time of construction, and Yano Kazusada, a Kurume feudal lord in the Edo period, wrote in his "Chikugo Shogun Gunban" that "Located on the south side of the Yamanobe Highway, it is the largest mound in the country.
Today, it is a park, and in the spring, it is crowded with many people as a cherry blossom viewing spot.

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Address: 1394-6 Ishigaki, Tanushimaru-cho, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka 839-1212
Reference: See details

Legendary water gods? 1,000 of them are scattered throughout the area.

In Tanushimaru Town, where numerous legends of kappa remain, there is a local volunteer group called the "Kuzenbomoto Yamada Tanushimaru Kappa Tribe," made up of people who wish to pass on and continue the legends, who work with children to enliven the local festival associated with the kappa. Through the activities of these local people, children have become familiar with kappa since they were small children.
There are about 1,000 kappas standing here and there in the town, including the deity of the water god. I am sure that you greet many of them on your way to and from school.
Kappa has been featured on TV and other media, which has led to an increase in the number of visitors and the number of people posting photos on social networking sites. The kappa's rich expressions make you want to point your camera at them.
In fact, Tanushimaru is the town with the most kappa in Japan.

When you find one of these unique kappas, you will wonder what the others are like, and as a result, you will be looking for the next kappa. The children are also quite cute, with their tasteful appearance due to the number of years they have been installed and the different materials used for the stones.
Some are made of granite and others are unique. Please visit Tanushimaru to find your favorite one.
The tourist association also publishes a walking map and encourages visitors to take a photo-journalistic shot.
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Check the Tanushimaru-cho Chamber of Commerce and Industry website.

Station building with a kappa face

The station building at Tanushimaru Station on the JR Hisaya Line is also kappa.
Standing at the ticket gate is a stone stationmaster, Kappa, who has been saying "Itterasshai" and "Okaerinasai" to station users since it was built in 1956.
I regret that I could not re-hang the tusk because there were too many people. I am sorry, Mr. Kappa, the stationmaster.

Sitting on the platform, it welcomes you in a unique way.

The giant kappa that sits on the platform with the Mishuku mountain range in the background is the author's guess.




Whenever I see this giant kappa, I smile with an "ugh" whenever I see it, thinking that people who see it unaware from the window of a non-stop limited express train, such as the Yufuin no Mori train, would be absolutely amazed.
The good thing is that they look troubled, embarrassed...indescribably charming.

It is also a stop for the popular Kanpachi Ichiroku limited express sightseeing train, which has been in operation since April 2024, so passengers can get off the train for a short time. Many of those who find the giant kappa on the platform where they alight for the first time take commemorative photos.
Of course, it is also a popular spot for "photographers.

Inside is a warm café space

The station building also houses a café called Kapateria, where curry and seasonal sweets are available,
A small selection of souvenirs is also available for the enjoyment of passengers, including the popular Kanpachi Ichiroku sightseeing train, which stops for a few minutes.

Rural scenery and the Mino Mountain Range seen from the second floor of the station building

From the spring of 2024, the second floor, which is the head of Kappa as seen from the exterior, will be opened as a café space, where visitors can enjoy the view from the windows of the eye area.
From the south window, the seasonal scenery of the Mino Mountain Range and the giant kappa will soothe your soul. It is a good spot to take a breather and enjoy the view of the passing trains.
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