About Tono

Tono, as described in Kunio Yanagida's The Legends of Tono (1910), is a city with a rich storytelling tradition. Legends and folktales about deities and yokai demons have been handed down over generations in this area. It is also known as a home of folklore. With various events held throughout the year in each area of Tono, local performing arts are an intrinsic part of daily life.

Tono is located in a basin surrounded by three mountains, Mt. Hayachine, Mt. Rokkoshi, and Mt. Ishigami. Summer and winter temperatures vary drastically in this region. Winters in Iwate Prefecture, where Tono is located, are particularly harsh, creating a stark contrast with the summer landscape.

Tono boasts Japan's largest agricultural land growing hop, an essential ingredient in beer. Aside from being known as the "land of beer," the area has a diverse food culture. Local specialties include kuretsubo turnips, which appeared in the gourmet manga Oishinbo; wasabi, of which Tono is the largest producer in the Tohoku region; and Tono jingisukan, a unique dish prepared using buckets.