How to get to Shiba Inu sacred place “Ishigo Memorial Hall” and “Shiba Inu Ancestor Ishigo Stone Statue”

2024年2月17日

Stone statue of Ishigo standing in front of Ishigo Memorial Hall

💕Hello, I’m Irukapapa.

Today, I would like to introduce you to the roots and sacred places of the Shiba Inu, which have recently become a hot topic in my hometown of Mito-cho, Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture, and how to get there and travel information around the area.

1. What is the Shiba Inu’s roots “Ishigo”?
2. Where is the Shiba Inu ancestor “Ishigo Memorial Hall”?
3. Directions from JR Masuda Station
4. Directions from Hagi/Iwami Airport
5. Directions from Hiroshima
6. Directions from Kyushu
7. Nearby tourist attractions
8. Mito Onsen Yumotokan Basic Information

What is the Shiba Inu’s roots “Ishigo”?

Information signboard in the parking lot of Ishigo no Sato

The Shiba Inu is a small Japanese dog that is popular all over the world and has been designated as a national natural monument.

Recently, the dog that is said to be its “roots” has been identified and has become a hot topic. The ancestor of the Shiba Inu is the “Ishigo” of Mito-cho, Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture.

Sekigo, a male Sekishu dog born on November 2, 1930, was taken in by a Japanese dog preservation group in Tokyo at the age of five, and dogs that inherited his bloodline became popular as the Shiba Inu, which now numbers 600,000 dogs. . The Shiba Inu, a pure Japanese dog, is also known as a “dog of good fortune”, having survived the ravages of war and infectious diseases and left behind descendants.

The unveiling ceremony of a stone statue of the Shiba Inu’s roots, “Ishi”, was held on November 2, 2019 in Mito-cho, Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture, where it was born. The stone statue is 57cm high and 68cm long, meaning it is life-sized.

Where is the Shiba Inu ancestor “Ishigo Memorial Hall”?

It is located in Itaigawa, Mito-cho, Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture. The memorial hall has materials related to Ishigo and a stone statue of Ishigo in front of the building.

Basic information about Ishigo Memorial Hall

Address: 252 Itaigawa, Mito-cho, Masuda-shi, Shimane 698-0201

Before explaining the specific directions, I will explain the related facilities related to Shiba Inu’s roots, “Ishigo”.

The following three facilities are related to the “Shiba Inu Sanctuary” related to Ishigo.

Ishigo Memorial Hall: Ishigo stone statue and museum
Mito Onsen Yumotokan: Ishigo stone statue and Ishigo menu at the attached restaurant
Roadside Station Saneight Mito: Ishigo explanatory signboard and Ishigo goods sales corner

Mito Town Specialty Tourism Association HP

Location of the three facilities

Mito Onsen Yumotokan and Roadside Station Sun Eight Mito are approximately 450 meters (5 minutes walk) from each other.
Mito Onsen Yumotokan and Ishigo Memorial Hall are approximately 4km apart (over one mountain pass)
Roadside Station Saneight Mito and Ishigo Kinenkan are approximately 4.45km apart.

If you’re going to a faraway place, you’ll want to take your time touring these three facilities. However, since this area is in the countryside, there are few bus services and no taxis.

So please refer to the directions I will explain now.

Directions from JR Masuda Station

The stone number that stands at Mito Onsen Yumotokan

How to get to Mito Onsen Yumotokan and Roadside Station Sun Eight Mito

From the Iwami Kotsu bus information center in front of JR Masuda Station, take the Iwami Kotsu bus bound for Futagawa or Route 191 bound for Hiroshima via Togouchi IC and get off at Mito Onsen or Mito Onsen Iriguchi.

To Futakawa: Get off at Mito Onsen, takes about 50 minutes, operates 7 flights a day (6 flights on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
Route 191 to Hiroshima via Togouchi IC: Get off at Mito Onsen Iriguchi, takes about 30 minutes, runs twice a day

🚌There is a counter and an indoor waiting room at the Iwami Kotsu Bus Information Center in front of Masuda Station.

How to get to Ishigo Memorial Hall

From the Iwami Kotsu bus information center in front of JR Masuda Station, take the bus bound for Itaigawa and get off at the last stop, Itaigawa. 1.1km from the bus stop, approximately 14 minutes walk.

The bus from Masuda to Itaigawa runs once a day (departs from Masuda Station at 16:30 and arrives at Itaigawa at 17:26).

Walking route from Itaigawa bus stop to Shiba Inu Ancestor Memorial Hall

Let’s go by bike 🚴‍♂️

Where can I rent it?

You can rent bicycles at the Masuda City Tourism Association located in front of Masuda Station.

You can choose from various types of bicycles, including road bikes, electric assist bikes, and city bikes. We also offer a service where you can store your luggage while cycling.

Official website of Masuda City Tourism Association

Course outline

The distance from Masuda Station to Mito Onsen Yumotokan is approximately 21.6 km one way.

👍You can enjoy cycling in the woodland area along the beautiful mountain stream, which is lush with greenery and makes up most of the course.

There are almost no traffic lights once you get through the city. National Route 191, where you cycle, is a “high-standard road” and has wide sidewalks, but since it runs through a mountainous area where few people live, there are hardly any people walking on the sidewalks (if you do, it would be a miraculous encounter) ).

However, the outbound route continues with a gentle uphill slope.

Cycling route map from Masuda Station to Mito Onsen (same route for rental cars)

rental car

There are several rental car companies around Masuda Station. The route to Mito Onsen by rental car is the same as the cycling route above.

planning

Day trip plan

I took the first bus in the morning from Masuda Station to Mito Onsen and visited Mito Onsen and Roadside Station Sun Eight. For meals, go to the restaurant Yuzunoki attached to the Mito Onsen Yumotokan and enjoy the Lucky Croquette and the Shiba Inu Roots Ishigo Menu.

In the afternoon, walk or take a taxi to Itai River and visit the Ishigo Memorial Hall. Return to Masuda by bus in the evening. *There is only one bus per day between Itaigawa and Masuda Station.

staying plan

There are two hot spring inns where you can stay in the Futagawa area where Mito Onsen is located. You can enjoy a tour of Shiba Inu’s sacred places while relaxing at Mito Onsen, which is known as the secret hot spring of the San'in area'' and thehot spring of beauty.”

You can also take a “one-stroke trip” by taking the bus bound for Hiroshima Station on the way back (or on the way there).

Directions from Hagi/Iwami Airport

The distance from “Hagi Iwami Airport” in Masuda City to the sacred place of Shiba Inu is approximately 27 km, which is the closest airport. All Nippon Airways operates flights to Hagi/Iwami Airport from Haneda, Osaka, and Itami. Buses bound for Masuda Station and Higashi-Hagi Station will depart at the same time as your flight.

The bus ride from Hagi/Iwami Airport to Masuda Station takes 15 minutes. See above for directions to the sacred place from Masuda Station.

You can also rent a car at the airport.

There is also a cycle station within the airport. You can “airlift” your bicycle from your home and enjoy cycling around Shiba Inu sacred sites.

Directions from Hiroshima

Directions from Hiroshima Station

From Hiroshima Station (Shinkansen Exit), take the Iwami Kotsu bus bound for Masuda via Route 191 Togouchi IC and get off at Mito Onsen Iriguchi. The bus runs twice a day and takes approximately 2 and a half hours. *Please note that the bus bound for Masuda via Mukkaichi does not stop at Mito Onsen.

Directions from Hiroshima Airport

Hiroshima Airport is recommended because it has a wide selection of airlines, a large number of flights, and low airfares.

From Hiroshima Airport, you can either rent a car or take the airport bus to Hiroshima Station, where you can transfer to a bus bound for Masuda.

If you are renting a car, take Sanyo Motor from Hiroshima Airport towards Hiroshima, take the Chugoku Jukan Expressway at Hiroshima Junction, get off at Togouchi Interchange, and then take Route 191 to Mito Onsen.

Distance and time required by car from airports in the West Chugoku region to Mito Onsen

Displays in order of shortest required time.

Hagi/Iwami Airport (All Nippon Airways): 27km ・38 minutes
Hiroshima Airport (all companies): 137km ・1 hour 50 minutes
Iwakuni Airport (All Nippon Airways): 127km ・2 hours 11 minutes
Yamaguchi Ube Airport (All Nippon Airways): 136km/2 hours 36 minutes
Izumo Airport (Japan Airlines): 149km, 2 hours 39 minutes

Directions from Kyushu

If you are coming from Fukuoka Airport or the Kyushu area, take the JR Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Yamaguchi Station and take the Yamaguchi Line to Masuda Station.

See above for directions from Masuda Station.

Nearby tourist attractions

Recommended French restaurant in Masuda: Bonne Maman Nobu

If you go to Mito Onsen, the sacred place for Shiba Inu, be sure to check out the surrounding attractions as well. Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture, where Mito Onsen is located, is a rare city with four different World Heritage Sites within a 60km radius.

Below, we will introduce four World Heritage Sites, four Japanese Heritage Sites, Quasi-National Parks, National Treasures/Important Cultural Properties, Nationally Designated Historic Sites, and Places of Scenic Beauty in Masuda City and its vicinity.

4 world heritage sites

Iwami Ginzan
Atomic bomb dome
Itsukushima shrine
Meiji Japan’s Industrial Revolution Heritage Sites (Hagi)

4 Japanese heritage sites

Masterpieces of Medieval Japan (Masuda City Old Town)
Tsuwano past and present (Tsuwano Town)
A mythical world where gods and demons are active – Kagura handed down in the Iwami region (all over the Iwami region)
A different space created by the dreams of men who have overcome the rough seas – Kitamaebune port of call (Hamada City)

Torii stairs at Taikodani Inari Shrine, Tsuwano

three national monuments

West Chugoku Mountains Quasi-National Park (Sandan Gorge, Hikimi Gorge, Mt. Garyu, Hachiman Plateau, Seiko Lake, etc.)
Kitanagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park (Sosa Bay, Hornfels Great Fault, Aoshima, etc.)
Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park (Akiyoshidai, Akiyoshido, etc.)