Encountering New Things at a Village, Itoshiro

Music, yoga and even magazines!
Gathering all happiness from people

MAGOEMON is a café during daytime and turns into an Izakaya (Tavern) at night. They provided charcoal grilled chicken during weekends too. Ms Yui says and smiles “If you think we are a normal restaurant, I am sorry we are not.”

They start events “SMOKEY RECORD NIGHT” and “MAGO YOGA” which they like at the restaurant. They plan to start a small library with their favorite books and magazines lately.

“Please feel free to come if you find it interesting.” Said Ms Yui and Mr Yasuhito. They want visitors to relax, not only fill their stomach.

Before we left, they are picking mint leaves in front of the restaurant. They are going to make mint syrup in the next season. I want to try mint soda and banana brownie made of rice flour next time! Please remember to make a reservation by phone before visiting.

In our next destination, let us go and see the Ema (Votive picture) with wishes and hopes!

We start heading to our final destination “Ema Museum”. Return to the path going to Itoshiro Yohinten and drive for 1 minute, we see a building with a large Ema.

Speaking of Ema, they are wooden plaques which people write their wishes. Most pray for school success. Emas are normally printed nowadays. But people draw their own Emas in the past. I am wondering how it looks like!

Colorful Emas are decorated everywhere inside the museum. It is stunning! Emas wish for getting well, for love, for children, for breastfeeding babies and even for abstinence!?

“Everyone has worries.” said Mr Yoshikazu Iwata, an Ema artist. When it was not easy to go to the hospital in the past, people could only pray for God. They were so desperate that their drawings were very cute and funny. You will never get tired of seeing all these.

Mr Iwata met Ema 25 years ago. He was busy doing other design but thought he could choose Ema to be his career maybe in the future. He finally started to create ema designs 10 years ago. He opened this Ema Museum in 2018 and started expending the range of Ema.

“You know, some things cannot be changed by human hands. Ema, is a relief, a link to the God.”

Mr Iwata aims to spread the goodness of Ema and let more people know it, so he opens for drawing experience too.

Mr Iwata prepares all the tools, like wooden plate, paints and drawing patterns. You do not have to bring anything! Everyone can finish drawing in 2 hours. He can show you to Hakusan Chugu-jinja Shrine to hang the ema if you request. If you have any wishes or worries, maybe try to write on a Ema next time?