Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura

Miyazawa Kenji is one of the most famous authors of fairy tales in Japan who created many great stories such as “Night on the Galactic Railroad” and “A Well-Ordered Restaurant.” In the facility of Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura located in Hanamaki city, Iwate prefecture, which is the hometown of Miyazawa Kenji, it’s as if you jumped straight into his fairy tale world. They introduce Miyazawa Kenji’s works and exhibit his mementos and original writing drafts, and also replicated buildings which appear in his stories. You can also enjoy the local cuisine of Iwate in the restaurant near by which uses Yamaneko-ken, a restaurant in the story “A Well-Ordered Restaurant,” as a model.

(Source: なっちゃんパパ / PIXTA(ピクスタ) )

About Miyazawa Kenji

Japanese fairy tale author Miyazawa Kenji was born in Hanamaki city, Iwate prefecture, in 1896. He continued to create many great stories including A Well-Ordered Restaurant, Ame ni mo Makezu and Night on the Galactic Railroad until he died at the young age of 37. His fairy tales were also published in many other languages including English and French, and they are loved all around the world.

(Source: easy-writer)

Experience the world of fairy tales!

In Kenji no Gakko, which literally means Kenji’s school, there are five zones named Fantastic Hall, Uchu no Heya (Galaxy Room), Tenku no Heya (Heavenly Room), Daichi no Heya (Earth Room) and Mizu no Heya (Water Room). In each room, you can feel as if you stepped into a different, fantastic world of fairy tales. The “Daichi no Heya” which has insects, small animals and plants from the stories in a large diorama is especially a room you can’t miss!

(Source: Twitter)

Learn about creatures in the fairy tales

In the log cabin Kenji no Kyoshitsu, which literally means Kenji’s classroom, they introduce animals, plants, stars and stones in his fairy tales. There is also a shop called “Mori no Misekkoya” in Kenji no Kyoshitsu, you can buy items related to Miyazawa Kenji’s works and specialties of Hanamaki city, the hometown of the author.

(Source: Instagram)

Restaurant where you can taste the world of fairy tales

Yamaneko-ken, a 10-minute walk from Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura, uses the restaurant that appears in A Well-Ordered Restaurant as a motif. You can enjoy the dishes related to Miyazawa Kenji’s works such as “Combination meal of Ihatove” and “Yamaneko Congee.”

(Source: 食べログ)

Walking around Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura

Around this facility, there is a walkway called Yosei no Komichi, and you can see the statues outside during your walk. There are also Miyazawa Kenji themed facilities such as Miyazawa Kenji Ihatove Kan, Miyazawa Kenji Kinenkan and Hanamaki City Museum as well as Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura.