World’s Most Mysterious Village in Japan 🇯🇵 (They are watching me)

Planning is crucial for this remote journey. Start from Okayama city early, around 6 AM, taking a train to Oboke Station. From Oboke, you'll need to take a bus, then another bus to reach Nagoro Village. Be aware that only two buses run to Nagoro daily, one in the morning and one in the evening, so timing your visit is critical to avoid being stranded. The creator arrived around 11 AM and had a return bus scheduled for 3:15 PM. The return journey involves multiple bus and train changes, taking several hours. The creator was lucky to hitchhike back to Oboke Station, saving significant time. The journey itself is part of the adventure, showcasing the beautiful, mountainous, and sparsely populated landscapes of Shikoku, with many tunnels and dense forests.

Arrive in Nagoro, a village so remote it feels like solving a mystery just to get there. You'll immediately notice the silence and the hundreds of lifelike scarecrows, each representing a former resident. It's genuinely scary and eerie, even in broad daylight. Walk around, trying to distinguish between real people and the 350+ scarecrows that outnumber the 25 human residents. You'll see them in fields, fishing, riding bicycles, chopping wood, or sitting in groups as if having conversations. Be prepared for extreme isolation; there are no cafes, restaurants, or shops, and only two buses run daily, one in the morning and one in the evening. If you miss it, you're stuck. The vibe is so unsettling, you might feel a chill despite the lack of actual danger, and the dense surrounding forests add to the isolation. The creator spent 45 minutes just sitting and observing the scarecrows, feeling the profound emptiness of the place.

Venture into Nagoro's buildings, like the former gymnasium and community hall, which are now filled with hundreds of scarecrows. The gymnasium, once a place for exercise, is now packed with over 100 scarecrows. The community hall features scarecrows arranged as if in a meeting, or depicting scenes like a wedding, a classroom with teachers and students, or people playing games. The detail is so realistic that you might momentarily mistake them for real people, causing goosebumps. The creator noted that the smaller community hall was open, but the larger gymnasium was locked, so access may vary. Even from outside, the sheer number and lifelike quality of the scarecrows create a surreal and unsettling atmosphere.

While exploring Nagoro, keep an eye out for Ayano Tsukimi, the artist behind all the scarecrows. The creator had a chance encounter with her, initially mistaking her for another scarecrow or a friend of the artist. She was wearing traditional Japanese farmer clothes and a mask. She revealed herself to be Ayano Tsukimi, the creator of the entire village. She was born in Nagoro in the 1950s when the population was 400-500. After moving to Osaka and returning in 2002, she started making scarecrows to represent the dwindling population. Each scarecrow takes about 3 days to make, and there are over 350 of them. This unique encounter with the artist herself is a highlight of the visit, offering insight into her work and the village's story.