Inside the creepy 'valley of dolls' where scarecrows have replaced human residents

The village of Nagoro, Japan, had barely 30 residents left when crafter Tsukimi Ayano moved in so she decided to fill the streets, fields and even school with lifelike scarecrows

Julie Delahaye and Sophie Foster Travel News Reporter

09:29, 11 Oct 2022

[Tsukimi Ayano filled the town with dolls]

Tsukimi Ayano filled the town with dolls(Image: Getty)

Japan will re-open for tourists by lowering Covid-19 restrictions tomorrow which means many Brits are looking to book their holidays.

But, while you might usually think of the bright lights of Tokyo, the food of Osaka or Takayama traditional town theres another side to the country - and its perfect for giving yourself the chills this Halloween.

Head to the village of Nagoro, Japan, and you'll spot plenty of the residents watching the traffic go by, working in fields or heading to the shops.

The village may appear to be busy, but these residents aren't alive; they're scarecrows.

Known as the Cursed Village the village is filled with 350 life-size scarecrows, which you might mistake for real people.

[Scarecrows sitting in the bus stop]

Scarecrows sitting in the bus stop(Image: Getty)

They even outnumber their fellow human residents by ten to one.

The scarecrows aren't intended to be creepy but there's no denying that there is something a little unsettling about a whole town filled with giant life-size dolls!

Youll get an uncanny valley feeling as you spot the residents throughout the village.

There are classrooms filled with fake teachers and children in the local school.

Scarecrows gather around the bus stops or on the front porches of the buildings, and farmers work in the fields.

Other highlights include dolls dancing together at a party, as well as workmen wearing hard hats taking a short break and enjoying some fresh air outside of an abandoned house.

[Scarecrow workers taking a break]

Scarecrow workers taking a break(Image: Getty)

Crafter Tsukimi Ayano, known as the "Scarecrow Mother, is behind the weird and wonderful creations.

Tsukimi was born in Nagoro but moved away, eventually returning in 2002.

Upon her return, she found that most residents had left to work in the city, and the population number continued to dwindle as older residents passed away. (In 2019 it was estimated that there were less than 30 people still in the village).

To make the town feel busier, Tsukimi began creating life-size dolls of the residents to populate the streets and surrounding countryside.

For example, the elementary school closed its doors, but today you'll still find its classrooms filled with students and teachers in lessons.

[Dolls on the side of the street]

You'll think the dolls are real people from a distance(Image: Getty)

She also created some dolls in tribute to deceased residents.

Every autumn, the village hosts a Scarecrow Festival complete with a photo competition (the winner receives their own scarecrow), as well as scarecrow-making workshops.

It's not the easiest destination to reach, as the village boasts a remote location in the Iya Valley in the Tokushima Prefecture, but that hasn't deterred visitors.

Although it wasn't initially intended to be a tourist destination, in recent years the village has become a hit with international visitors who make the trek to see the dolls.

The village has also featured on TV, including 2014 documentary Valley of the Dolls, as well as an appearance during an episode of James May's travel series Our Man in Japan.

Always check the current restrictions around travel and ensure you have the correct documents before flying.

You can look up the rules for UK tourists on the gov.uk website.

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