Matsushige: River Delta, Sea and Culture

Matsushige lies in a low-lying delta at the mouth of the Yoshino River; its eastern side borders the sea. The Kyū-Yoshino River and the Imagirigawa flow through the town. Land reclamation created new areas for cultivation here. This landscape and local agriculture give Matsushige a distinctive character, also reflected in its specialties and cultural sites.

River Landscapes and Regional Produce

Indigo is grown in a field beside the Matsushigate facility. The Matsushigate Asaichi brings fresh fish and vegetables together for direct sale. Produce from the surrounding area also tells of the connection between water and cultivation: juvenile Japanese anchovies landed at Nagahara Port are first boiled and then dried in the sun. Because of their high quality, these whitebait products are called Taibaku Chirimen.

Other well-known Matsushige products include Naruto Kintoki sweet potatoes. Thanks to their color and shape, they are sold nationwide under the name “Matsushige Bijin.” Kōsui and Hōsui pears are also grown in Matsushige. Amamori seaweed grown in Nagahara is processed entirely into dried nori and shipped out; the processing takes place in an automated, hygienic factory. If regional food culture matters to you when choosing a holiday rental, you’ll find several different ways to experience it here—from fresh fish and vegetables at the market to products with a clearly identified place of origin.

Festivals, Cultural Properties and Local History

An annual event is the Jizō-bon Festival at Donkaiji Temple in Nakagirai: it is celebrated on August 23 and is also known as Nijūsanya. Niagari Ondo and circle dancing are the main events. At the autumn festival at Sasakino’s Kasuga Shrine, the Sasakino Festival Association leads the procession. The three districts of Kitaji, Hacchōno, and Yamanote take turns every two years in performing the lion dance, Neri, and Danjiri. The Sasakino Danjiri Ondo and the mikoshi procession are designated as intangible folk cultural properties of the town.

Individual historic sites and works also bring the past to life. The Rokujizōson in Nakagirai stands on the grounds of the former Kōmyō-an. It was erected on February 15, 1581, and is Matsushige’s oldest surviving stone cultural property. The Keiyuhi, designated a historic site by Tokushima Prefecture, is located within the Kasuga Shrine grounds in Nakagirai. Matsushige-designated tangible cultural properties include Okazawa Shūsui’s “Tomagashima Ryakuden” and “Dohyōiri Ezu” by an unknown artist.

Another special site is the small Shimo-Saigoku Sanjūsankasho pilgrimage site, comprising 33 sacred sites. It was established in the early Meiji period: the priest Kinkame Giyū and his helpers built it using sand they brought back from the sites along the Saigoku pilgrimage route. At Fudōin Shrine, the first stop on this pilgrimage, you can see a ceiling painting donated around 1886: two depictions of heavenly women, each about one meter tall, are surrounded by 45 flower paintings, each approximately 30 centimeters on a side.

Museum, Park and Airport

The Matsushige Museum of History and Folklore explores the town’s history and folklore, including the themes “The People of Matsushige in Their Struggle with Water” and “Awa Puppet Theatre Jōruri.” You can view artworks and cultural properties there. Puppet theatre Jōruri performances are held free of charge at 10 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month; check the latest notices before your visit. Exhibits on Awa puppet theatre include puppet heads, puppets, and paintings. Works and puppet heads by the puppet maker Tenkūkyū are also among the exhibits.

Tsukimigaoka Kaihin Park has a spacious lawn, a play area, and barbecue facilities. Ten cottages in four types are offered there under the name “Otsukimi Village.” If the park setting suits your plans, check current availability before booking.

Tokushima Awaodori Airport is located in Matsushige and is officially named Tokushima Airport; its codes are TKS and RJOS. The check-in counters are on the ground floor. There is an information desk and a rental car counter in the arrivals hall; the information desk provides information on onward transport, tourism, and services in the building. The third floor has souvenir shops, cafés, a food court, restaurants, and an observation hall where you can watch aircraft up close. Check the latest airport information before traveling. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether local products, cultural heritage, the park setting, or the airport facilities will play the biggest part in your stay.

Explore more destinations: Naruto, Mima, Naka, Anan, Miyoshi, Komatsushima, Kaiyo, Tokushima.

For the main travel overview: Tokushima Prefecture.