Currently, there is a photo contest underway on Shodoshima island. Click here for information on how to enter:

参加方法はこちら (Japanese)

There are 24 spots on the island that have been designated as places to be photographed.
In today’s article, I’m going to introduce one of them: Nijushino Hitomi Eigamura (Nijushino Hitomi Movie Village), which is a reconstruction of the sets and location of the movie Nijushino Hitomi (English title: Twenty-Four Eyes) where anyone can come and relive the timeless masterpiece. (The village celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2017.)

Experiencing the Village in Kimono!

There are plenty of shops and things to see at Nijushino Hitomi Movie Village, but before you even start, there is one thing everyone has to do.

And that is to change into a kimono to properly experience the surroundings.

You can rent a kimono for 500 yen. Put it on, and you will be taken straight back to the movie period and its beloved atmosphere.

And if you then have your photo taken, the result might look something like this. It’s almost as if you become the main character in the movie.

Old-Fashioned Wooden School Building Photo-Shoot

The first place to go (after putting on a kimono), is the old-fashioned wooden school building that is located at the back of the village.

A reconstruction of Noma Elementary School, one of the locations in the movie, it’s so nostalgic you might even shed a tear…

The hallway is bright and filled with sunlight, so it’s perfect for taking commemorative photos. For the best scene, lower the saturation and take a monochrome picture. Afterwards, head to the building next door. You will without doubt find a certain thing that makes you feel like a child again.

Nostalgic School Lunch

At Kinemanoiori, you will find an exhibition of photos and videos from the movie. And most importantly, you can eat old-fashioned food at the Cafe Cinema Club.

Here’s the traditional Showa period school lunch. It has deep-fried sugar bread that sticks to your mouth with the first bite. The set is 890 yen, and you get deep-fried sugar bread, soup curry, frozen mikan orange, and milk or milk coffee. Adults might be taken down memory lane and be moved to tears.

Feeding a Popular Idol

An ocean fish swims in the village’s river…

The popular fish from the movie is a kobudai (asian sheepshead wrasse), and its nickname is Kobuchan. You are allowed feed it, so please go and say hello to Kobuchan.

The Many Charms of The Movie Village

There is a shrine in the village called the Nijushino Hitomi Tenmangu Shrine. Here, you can buy omikuji (fortune slips) with quotes from Shakespeare. Among other things to do and see in the village is a tsukudani shop, a variety store, nice cafes, and other shops. In other words, you can spend a lot of time here before getting bored. At Gallery Matsutakeza, the titular movie is shown twice a day, and you can come see it for free. If you haven’t seen it yet, this is definitely something you have to do.

The Misakino Bunkyojo Photo Spot

About 700m to the north of the village lies the Tanoura Branch School. Built in 1902, it was an actual school. The flat-roofed building more commonly went by the name of Misakino Bunkyojo.

Though it is now closed, visitors can come and see how it looks inside. With desks, organ and things the children made still in their place, the classroom has not changed since it closed in the Meiji period (1868~1912).

Ferry Shortcut

As the Nijushino Hitomi Movie Village is at the very peak of the peninsula, it might be a little bit difficult to get to from the mainland. However, there is a ferry that goes from Shodoshima Olive Park.

It takes you straight from Shodoshima Olive Park to the movie village, and is a very nice shortcut! As the ferry helps cut down on traveling time around Shodoshima, please keep this in mind when you come to visit.

Nijushino Hitomi Eigamura
Address: 931 Tanoura, Shodoshima, Shozu District, Kagawa Prefecture
Open: 9:00 – 17:00 (November: 8:30 – 17:00)
Closed: Open throughout the year
Tel: 0879-82-2455
Parking: Available

http://www.24hitomi.or.jp/

Photo-contest hashtag:
Nijushino Hitomi Eigamura #24eigamura
Misakino Bunkyojo: #22misakinogakkou

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Daisuke Chiba