Monobe

The town of Monobe is surrounded by steep mountains. Located in Japan on the border of Kochi Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture, Mt. Sanrei, the highest mountain in Kochi Prefecture (1,893 meters above sea level), lies to the north. Small communities and fields are seen along the Makiyama River and Kaminiro River, which run through the town. Although the town looks very different from what it looked like before the Nagase Dam was built in 1956, the villages at the foot of the mountains have remained unchanged since the Middle Ages.

The four seasons in this area are distinctly different: mild and moderately cool in spring and summer;becoming cold from autumn to winter; and with snowfall in winter. The Oku-Monobe Kosui Matsuri Festival, held in August every year, has become famous and now attracts visitors from far and wide. It is also known as "Oyama no Disco" (i.e., the "disco in the mountains"), and in addition to the traditional dances of this area such as the Hassan dance, everyone comes together for the Bachibachi dance, enjoyed with all sorts of music, including international and traditional Japanese enka songs. This festival exemplifies the spirit of the people of Monobe, who wish to share their enjoyment and bring joy to all who come while consoling the souls of the people who died in Nagase Dam construction accidents.

The town of Monobe is covered 90% by forest, and the town has thrived on forestry and growing the materials for producing Japanese washi paper. And the area has become famous for yuzu citrus fruit cultivation, with the area's yuzu being shipped to all corners of Japan. In fact, inakazushi (a type of sushi made mainly using vegetables and other mountain ingredients) incorporating this yuzu citrus is a famous traditional dish of this area. From Odochi, located at the center of Monobe, where Maki no Yado is, we can guide you to: Befu Canyon, which is famous for autumn leaves; the village in Kagesendo, with its yuzu fields lining the tops of stonework; the Kamiike area, where one legend has been passed down for generations; Mt. Sanrei and the Shiragayama mountains, which is/are extremely popular with mountaineers; and more.