Tango Chirimen and Guardian Cat
The only Komaneko in Japan
The Kishima Shrine of Kotohira Shrine was established in 13 from Kishima Shrine, the "Silkworm Shrine" in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, through the faith of local crepe weavers.
Shortly thereafter, the pair of Komaneko statues were donated by thread merchants and silkworm farmers, and remain there to this day.
The cat on the left side of the shrine is holding a kitten, its hand on its head, its mouth open and saying "Ah."
The cat on the right is sitting with its mouth closed and making a "poop" sound.
Is the cat holding the kitten a mother cat?
Or perhaps a dignified father cat?
This town, which has grown alongside its beloved guardian cats, is still filled with cat-related gourmet food, sweets, and spots.
Come to Mineyama, a place full of cats, where both cat lovers and non-cat lovers can enjoy themselves.
Kotohira Shrine
627-0034 Izumi, Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 1165-2
TEL 0772-62-0225
You can make your own unique Komaneko statue!
A guardian cat enshrined in the grounds of Kotohira Shrine in Mineyama Town.
This is an experience where you can freely paint colors and patterns on this replica of the guardian cat and create your own original Komainekko.
You can take your finished work home with you, or if you wish, you can donate it to Kotohira Shrine.
This is a popular experience that makes a great family trip memory or travel souvenir.
Cat-themed gourmet food and sweets
Cute cat-themed sweets that you'll want to take pictures of,
One of the joys of walking around town is to explore the "cat sweets" that are fun to look at and delicious to eat.
If you stop by during your trip, you're sure to be satisfied in both your heart and your stomach.
You can encounter some cute and nyan gourmet food that is unique to Kyotango.
Tango's local cuisine and Komaneko collaboration "Komaneko Barazushi"
KISSUIEN Stay & Food is a hotel located about an 8-minute walk from Mineyama Station, making it convenient for visiting Kotohira Shrine.
This long-established hotel, founded in 1969, will undergo a complete renovation in 2024, offering an even more comfortable and stylish stay.
A must-try at the hotel's restaurant, "aun," is the popular, playful menu item inspired by Komaneko.
・Komaneko Barazushi Set Meal ・・・・・・・・ 2,000 yen *Available only at lunchtime
・Lunch set (with coffee)...2,300 yen
*Reservations for both parties must be made at least three days in advance.
We have prepared a special meal featuring Tango Bara Sushi, a local dish from Kyotango.
The meal comes with a small bowl of side dishes, tempura, soup, and dessert, making it a visually appealing meal.
When you open the lid, you'll see a trick box with an illustration of a parent and child guardian cat standing up, and the omelet is shaped like a cat sitting on its back. It's so cute that it will make your heart flutter even before you eat it.
The box can be used as a display case for small items after you've finished eating, making it a perfect souvenir from your trip.
KISSUIEN Stay & Food
627 Sugitani, Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 0012-943
TEL 0772-62-5111
Breakfast 6:45-9:30
Lunch 11:00-14:00 (advance reservation required)
Dinner 17:30-21:30 (L.O. 21:00)
(Closed on Sundays)
The cute, sitting cat! "(Cat) NEKO-NO-EN"
"(Cat) NEKO-NO-EN" is a cat-shaped high-quality manju made by Toda Fugetsudo, a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Mineyama Town.
The long-standing bond between Tango and cats is expressed as "Cat's Bond," and the cake is made moist using Tango-grown Koshihikari rice flour.
Although it looks cute, one bite will reveal the elegant taste of authentic Japanese sweets.
This is an excellent item that makes a great souvenir or gift, and also makes a great snack to have with tea.
Toda Fugetsudo
627-0012 Sugitani, Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 27-7
TEL 0772-62-0790
Business hours: 9:00-18:00 (closed on Sundays)
Faithfully reproduce the face of the guardian cat! "Guardian Cat Monaka"
Located across from Kotohira Shrine, Okashitsukasa Daido is a long-established confectionery shop that has been in business for over 120 years.
Here you can try the famous Komaneko Monaka sweet, which is based on the shrine's guardian cats.
The faces of "A" and "Un" are faithfully reproduced on the front and back of the mochi.
The crispy, fragrant skin is filled with plenty of bean paste.
This masterpiece combines the skills of Japanese confectioners passed down through generations with the sensibilities of modern pastry chefs.
You can enjoy just one, and the box of three decorated with cat paw prints 🐾 is recommended as a souvenir or gift.
Daido Confectionery
627 Izumi, Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 0034-65
TEL 0772-62-1360
Business hours: 10:00-19:00 (closed on Wednesdays)
The silhouette is adorable! "Cat Madeleine"
"Cat Madeleines" from Patisserie K, a Western-style pastry shop that uses locally produced ingredients and is committed to handmade products.
The fluffy, baked cat silhouette is so cute that it will make you smile the moment you pick it up.
There are two types: plain, which has a gentle taste with a rich butter aroma, and black sesame, which has a fragrant and rich flavor.
In addition, the store offers a wide variety of products made with home-grown blueberries, as well as over 50 types of baked goods and fragrant, freshly baked bread, so there's plenty to choose from.
Patisserie K
627-0004 Arayama, Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 372-6
TEL 0772-62-3458
Business hours: 10:00-18:00 (Closed on Mondays/If Monday is a public holiday, the next day will be closed)
Cat-related Spot ①
The "Koma Neko Shutter Art" painted in Honmachi Shopping Arcade in Mineyamacho is a must-see photo spot to stop by on your stroll around town.
Behind the large blue and white Komaneko statue stands a torii gate, creating an impressive design that seems to guard the approach to Kotohira Shrine.
This art was created in collaboration between students from Kyoto Sangyo University and Mineyama High School, and is imbued with the sensibilities of the younger generation and their feelings for their hometown.
Be sure to take a photo of the Komaneko statues, which have become the new landmark of the shopping district.
Komaneko Shutter Art
627 Shiragane, Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 0033-13
Cat-related spots ②
"Koma Neko Wall Art" was created as part of community development efforts.
The executive committee and local residents worked together to create a large mural approximately 14 meters long, which was painted on the wall of the headquarters of local company Nisshin Seisakusho.
It features motifs typical of Kyotango and cute lion cats.
This art, which is imbued with the desire to invigorate the entire town, is a great photo spot to stop by on your walk around town.
Komaneko Wall Art
627 Yasu, Mineyamacho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 0027-97
"Koma-neko" (guardian cats) you'll encounter on street corners
As you stroll around, you'll see adorable cats lined up in front of shops.
They look like beckoning cats, but if you look closely you'll see ceramic guardian cats and wooden carved cats.
This scene seen in the town is unique to Mineyama.
-Event introduction that connects cats and people-
This year's Komaneko Festival will be held mainly on Sunday, September 9st.
This festival, which originated in honor of the guardian cats at Kotohira Shrine, has become an annual autumn event that draws many people since it began in 2016.
On the day, there will be plenty of fun experiences, including events related to Komaneko and Tango Chirimen, as well as gourmet booths and workshops.
You can experience Mineyama's history and culture while walking around the town.
A lively festival with a warm atmosphere that can be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
Come experience a special day where you can feel the connection with Mineyama's cats.
-Solving mysteries and exploring the city with cats-
A real-life mystery-solving event set in Mineyama Town that you can challenge yourself to while walking around the town.
The story begins with finding a home for a lost kitten.
As you solve the mystery, you will encounter many features that allow you to learn about the history of Mineyama town and Tango Chirimen.
This is an experiential tourism content that both adults and children can enjoy.
〇Summary
Starting point: Kotohira Shrine (627-0034 Izumi, Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, 1165-2)
Admission: Free
Duration: Enjoy freely while walking around the town.
〇How to participate
1. Add as a friend on LINE using the QR code on the flyer
2. Once the problem arrives on your smartphone, it's time to get started!
3. Walk through the town while solving puzzles and aim for the goal
*Please prepare a smartphone (internet connection and LINE app required).
*Please be careful as there are narrow roads and heavy traffic along the way.
* Flyer placement location
・Kotohira Shrine Office
・KISSUIEN stay & food
・Mineyama Library
・Machimachi Information Center
(Organized by: Seaside Kyoto DMO)
Mineyama Town is the birthplace of the high-quality silk fabric "Tango Chirimen."
Approximately 300 years ago, after much training and research, silk merchant Saheiji established the technique of crepe weaving, and Mineyama flourished as one of Japan's leading centers for silk fabrics.
The background to this was the development of the sericulture industry, but the biggest enemy was rats, which devoured cocoons and silkworms.
The very thing that protected the silkworms from this damage was cats.
Cats are indispensable to silkworm farmers, and people began to worship cats as a token of their gratitude.