Big Tengu Mask in Haruno-cho

 

Did you know that there is a big tengu (long-nosed fearsome demi-gods) in Hamamatsu?

Haruno Town, at the foot of Mt. Akiba, is a tengu village where many legends of tengu remain. Legends related to tengu have been handed down from ancient times in Haruno-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu City. 

You can see characters and monuments related to tengu all over the town. If you would like to know more about Tengu and other local folklore, you can check Tengu-chan's Local folklore https://www.inhamamatsu.com/culture/tengu-chans-local-folklore.php

Among them, the large tengu mask introduced this time has an overwhelming presence as a symbol of Tengu no Sato Haruno. The size, which is the largest in Japan, is 8 meters high, 6 meters wide, and 4 meters long nose, which is huge.

The location of Daitengu-men (Large Tengu Mask) is about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from Hamamatsu Station in Haruno-cho, Tenryu-ku.

The current location is the site of the former Shuchi-gun Miyagawa Jinjo Elementary School, and there is the Haruno Town Sanson Development Center, a souvenir store next to the tengu, the local director Shirai Tetsuzo Memorial Hall, and the Forest Culture Tradition Hall.

In the store, they sell many local products and handmade arts. My personal favorite is rock-painted cats. One of my hobbies is rock painting, I wrote about it in a previous blog. 

Hallelujah Koubou, the company that does order-made rock-painted cates, also produces green tea.

Around the big Tengu mask, there are some tourist spots that you can visit. Also walking course map, for people who enjoy walking and hiking.

Akiha Fire Festival is held annually in Akiha shrine. To know more about Akiha shrine, please check Akihasan Hongu Akiha shrine https://www.inhamamatsu.com/culture/akihasan-hongu-akiha-jinja.php 

If you take a short walk behind the local director Shirai Tetsuzo Memorial Hall and the Forest Culture Tradition Hall building, you will see the beautiful scenery of a river and a bridge.

The "Daitengu-men" Big Tengu Mask at the Haruno Cultural Center along the Akiba Highway (National Highway 362) is worth a visit. Please come and visit if you are in the area!

Address: 1768 Miyagawa, Haruno-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu-shi

Phone number: 053-989-0200