Japan Uncovered #2: Ichinomiya in Aichi Pref. hits sweet spot between urban, rural living

The Mainichi

4 days ago

Coordinators for international relations from around the world are responsible for international exchange activities across Japan. In this series, they share the charms of the municipalities where they live and work.
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Located less than 15 minutes away by train from both Gifu and Nagoya stations, Ichinomiya hits the sweet spot between urban and rural living. It's never too crowded, the people are friendly and little snippets of nature can be found even in the most developed part of town. My personal favourite is Ichinomiya in the spring -- when cherry blossoms bloom in the parks and along the rivers.
The most scenic spots can be found along the Kisogawa River Bank, within 138 Tower Park and along the Oegawa River Greenway. Many of the cherry blossoms are over 100 years old, and their fleeting beauty always takes my breath away. If you're a cherry blossom enthusiast looking for peace away from the busy tourist crowds, then Ichinomiya is the place for you.
Tanabata star festival celebrating textiles
If you're not afraid of crowds then you should come to see the Textiles Thanksgiving Ichinomiya Tanabata Festival. Parades, performances, dancing and food and game stalls -- there's lots happening over the four days ending on the last Sunday of July. The whole venue is decked out in vibrant streamers and it's the perfect occasion to wear "yukata" summer kimono for some classic Japanese summer fun. Every night hundreds of people gather around to dance "bon odori" (bon dance) -- don't worry if you don't know the song or the moves, just follow along!
A highlight of the festival is the Onzo-Hoken Parade. It's said that the textile industry in Ichinomiya thrived thanks to the god of textiles, and so every year paraders dressed in ceremonial attire make their way to Masumida Shrine to offer local specialty textiles to the god to express the people's gratitude and prayers for prosperity.
Don't miss out on Bishu textiles
Bishu -- an old name for the area surrounding and including Ichinomiya -- is synonymous with high quality textiles. Local brands and overseas luxury brands use Bishu fabrics for clothing, accessories, furniture, and even in car interiors. From fibre to yarn to fabric, the Bishu region does it all. In particular, the Bishu region is the country's largest producer of woollen textiles, but cotton, synthetics and other fibre textiles are also produced in the region.
BISHU FES., a fashion and art festival held in November is a great opportunity to get your hands on some Bishu brand products. A Bishu wool scarf would make a lovely gift for the winter months. But if you're like me and am someone that likes crafts, why not try knitting or crocheting a gift yourself using high quality Bishu yarn? There's a wide selection of fibre content, colour and thicknesses, so you'll definitely find something perfect to enhance your next project.
Be sure to try the 'morning'
When it comes to food, Ichinomiya is well-known for being the starting place of "morning service" (often shortened to just "morning"), where you're offered a complimentary breakfast (most commonly a piece of toast or a boiled egg) for just the price of your drink. These days there are more and more options being offered for morning service, with some items not being complimentary but for a discounted price. The morning that I've liked the most so far is a from a quaint little cafe not far from my house that serves waffles, but the most unconventional I've seen is Indian curry -- complete with naan and salad!
What's not as widely known about Ichinomiya is the city's "wagashi" (Japanese traditional sweets) culture. Old and new wagashi shops each with their own specialty are scattered around the city. From the more nationally common "ichigo daifuku" (mochi filled with sweet bean paste with strawberry) to "oni manju" (steamed bun with sweet potatoes) found only in Aichi and surrounding prefectures, there's a diverse range of choices to satisfy your sweet tooth. There's even "nerikiri" sweets shaped like Ichinomiya's mascot character Ichimin, which are just way to cute!
City information
Population: 375,420 (as of June 2025)
Number of foreign residents: 9,309 (as of June 2025)
Area: 113.82 square kilometers
Convenient access to the city: JR Owari-Ichinomiya Station, Meitetsu Ichinomiya Station
About the writer
Name: Alice Yang
Country of origin: New Zealand
Years living in Japan: Five
Favorite Japanese food: Sukiyaki
Favorite things about Japan: Anime and manga