A Small Town, Big in the Arts

    LOS ANGELES, CA, August 24, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Toyooka City is ecstatic to announce the beginning of the annual Toyooka Theater Festival! As a small city with a profound focus on the arts, ranging from Kabuki performances to bag craftsmanship and from traditional straw craft to modern-art performances, it's no wonder that Toyooka City serves as the epicenter of art in Hyogo Prefecture of the Kansai Region.

With performances spread out across nine areas of Northern Hyogo throughout the month of September, the Toyooka Theater Festival connects local municipalities across Northern Hyogo Prefecture with both international and Japanese creatives.

Ticket sales for the various events and performances have gone on sale starting August 4, with organizers thrilled to welcome both locals and visitors alike to celebrate the arts thriving in a rural setting.

Building Community Through Art
Through the integration of special currency, non-contact ticketing systems, and local tour planning, the Toyooka Theater Festival not only provides unique entertainment for visitors and locals, but also serves as a special opportunity for nurturing community development. Along with the aim of developing the local community through artistic endeavors, The Toyooka Theater Festival boasts the ambitious goal of becoming the number one theater festival in Asia within five years and one of the world's top theater festivals within ten years.

Multilingual Performances
Toyooka Theater Festival hosts performances in Japanese, English, French, and other languages, providing a sense of belonging and community among fellow art lovers who visit the festival, regardless of language.

Fringe Programs: Art for All
The beauty of Northern Hyogo serves as a stage for artists during the Theater Festival's fringe program. In addition to Director's program multilingual performances, the Toyooka Theater Festival continues to make accessibility to art a main priority of its mission by holding public fringe programs around Northern Hyogo. Coupled with the natural and dramatic beauty of locations such as Takeno Beach and the Kannabe Highlands, visitors can enjoy performances such as concerts and dancing.

KINOSAKI ONSEN: A COZY HOT SPRING TOWN FOR THE MOST AUTHENTIC JAPANESE EXPERIENCE
Kinosaki Onsen is a town of time-honored hot springs dating back 1300 years ago. It is home to seven public bathhouses, all located within walking distance of each other and the train station. Guests are encouraged to wear yukata and geta, stroll through the town, and go onsen-hopping.

Toyooka is a downtown area home to the Oriental White Stork, a bird that was revived from extinction in this very town. The city's efforts restored the Oriental White Stork population, and now over 260 fly the skies of Japan. Toyooka is also known for the Genbudo Caves.

Izushi is the resident castle town, popular for its nostalgic atmosphere of Edo-era Japan. It is home to many interesting attractions such as castle ruins, a samurai house, a kabuki theater, and a clock tower. The town's specialty is Izushi Sara Soba, buckwheat noodles served in small portions on small plates.

Kannabe is a mountainous area with fun activities year-round. In the winter, one can go skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding. In the warm months, one can go camping, paragliding, fishing, tree climbing, and more. Kannabe is the perfect destination for adventurers.

Takeno is a quaint fisherman town that is a hidden gem among the northern coast of Hyogo Prefecture. The beach has clear, blue waters while the mountains surrounding it offer great hiking opportunities. It is encouraged to stroll through the peaceful town, where one can find small shops and traditional landscapes.

Tanto is a quiet countryside town with magnificent nature—including a giant field of tulips in the spring and brilliant red-leaved trees in the fall.

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