Discover the Giant Straw Monument of Nigaki, Matsusaka

We will introduce you to a giant object made from rice straw that can be seen in Matsusaka City.

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Matsusaka City Tourism Exchange Division

Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture is located almost in the center of Japan, where you can enjoy world-class gourmet Matsusaka beef, rich history and culture, and beautiful nature. During the Edo period, Matsusaka was the final post town for pilgrimages to Ise-mairi (a pilgrimage to Japan's highest-ranking shrine). These merchants succeeded in trading Matsusaka cotton in Edo and brought prosperity to Matsusaka.

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Nigaki, a Town in the Matsusaka Countryside

In thewestern part of Matsusaka, the roads are surrounded by picturesque countryside—mountainsrise in the distance, the forests and valleys are punctuated with tiny villagespast stone bridges and emerald rivers.

Why a Giant Straw Monument?

▲Themonument from 2021, the monk Hotei-san.

The monuments have been a hit. People from all around drive out to take photos, and the committee has been featured in local news as well as media networks outside Mie Prefecture. The leader of the committee mentions that a friend in Hong Kong even saw the monument in a local magazine.

The Making of the Monument

Thecommittee sources lumber in the area, incorporates bamboo from nearby forests,and builds the statue’s exterior with local rice straw. When the monument comesdown around May, they save the lumber for next year, and give the straw tovegetable gardens and farms for feed and bedding.

Where and When to Find the Giant Straw Monument

[Click here for detailed tourist information on Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture ]

Matsusaka City Tourism Information Site

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