The Great Illustrated Encyclopedia of Yokai from Nakoyachu Village

Explore the intersection of historical legacy and supernatural mystery with the Nagoya Nakamura Yokai Grand Encyclopedia. This immersive event invites participants to step into the shoes of an investigator to uncover the secrets of the “Nagoya Nakamura Yokai”—strange monsters known as mononoke that have reportedly been appearing in the Nakamura district of Nagoya.

~Hideyoshi and Hidenaga’s “Seven Spears of Shizugatake”~

The event draws its inspiration from a pivotal moment in Japanese history. Next year marks 444 years since the Battle of Shizugatake, a fierce struggle for power over the succession of the Oda family that occurred the year after Nobunaga’s unexpected demise at Honno-ji. It was through this battle that Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Hidenaga emerged victorious, marking a significant step toward the unification of the realm.

In present-day Nagoya, specifically in Nakamura—where Hideyoshi and Hidenaga were born and raised—rumors have circulated regarding the appearance of mononoke. These monsters are said to hold banquets night after night in various locations. While they are not malicious toward humans, the Nagoya Nakamura Yokai Investigation Agency has been established to uncover their true identities. Whether these creatures are celebrating the victory of the Battle of Shizugatake or gathering for another purpose remains a mystery. Because the agency cannot investigate every sighting alone, they are calling for public cooperation to complete the encyclopedia.

Booklet Distribution Locations

To begin your investigation, you must first obtain a game book. Booklets are available at the following locations during their respective operating hours:

Toyotomi Museum: 9:00–16:30
Nagoya City Kanayama Tourist Information Center: 9:00–19:00
Oasis 21 i-Center: 10:00–20:00
Nagoya City Nagoya Station Tourist Information Center: 8:30–19:00
Okehazama Ancient Battlefield Tourist Information Center: 10:00–16:00
Odaka Tourist Information Center: 10:00–16:00 (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Nagoya Castle Main Gate <Drama Museum Ticket Sales Booth>: 9:30–15:00

Headquarters Where You Can Get Stamps

Once you have progressed through the event, all area stamps can be pressed at any of the designated headquarters. These headquarters are categorized by the historical “camps” they represent:

【Nakamura Lands ~Hideyoshi and Hidenaga’s Camp~】

Toyotomi Museum: 23-1 Kinoshita-yashiki, Nakamura-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City (Located inside Nakamura Park). Business hours are 9:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Note that opening hours may be extended during special events.

【Meijo Osu Lands ~Ieyasu’s Camp~】

Nagoya Castle Main Gate <Drama Museum Ticket Sales Booth>: Main Gate, 1-1 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya City. Business hours are 9:00–15:00.
Oasis 21 i-Center: 1-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City (Oasis 21 B1F). Business hours are 10:00–20:00.

【Odaka Okehazama Lands ~Nobunaga’s Camp~】

Odaka Tourist Information Center: 33 Azaishinoto, Odaka-cho, Midori-ku, Nagoya City. Open Saturdays and Sundays only, 10:00–16:00.
Okehazama Ancient Battlefield Tourist Information Center: 2037 Makiyama, Okehazama, Midori-ku, Nagoya City. Business hours are 10:00–16:00.

Find Yokai and Get Prizes!

Participants who clear one or more locations are eligible for original prizes. Please note that all prizes are distributed exclusively at the Toyotomi Museum.

Prize Delivery Guidelines

Only one item of one type per person will be provided during each distribution period, provided you have obtained one or more achievement stamps.
Possessing multiple game books does not entitle a person to more than one item of one type.
For group participation, prizes will be limited to whichever is smaller: the number of game books or the number of participants.
Prizes are limited in quantity and provided on a first-come, first-served basis; alternative items will be provided once the specific period’s prizes are exhausted.

Prize Distribution Periods
The prizes are released in three distinct waves, each featuring a different historical figure’s hand towel:

1st Wave: July 20 (Mon) – August 9 (Sun) — Hand Towel (Hidenaga)
2nd Wave: August 10 (Mon) – August 30 (Sun) — Hand Towel (Hideyoshi)
3rd Wave: August 31 (Mon) – September 27 (Sun) — Hand Towel (Kiyomasa)

The number of prizes received depends on the number of areas cleared: achieving two or more areas grants two types of prizes, and achieving three or more areas grants three types. However, during any given wave, only the designated type for that period can be received. For example, if you already own the 1st Wave prize and wish to obtain the 2nd Wave prize, you must achieve two or more areas and visit the museum between August 10 and August 30.

How to Apply for Luxury Prizes

Those who successfully clear all designated areas are eligible to enter a lottery for luxury prizes provided by Hotel JAL City Nagoya Nishiki:

Pair accommodation (including breakfast): 2 pairs available.
Pair lunch tickets: 5 pairs available.

Application Method

Present your completed game book (all areas cleared) at the Toyotomi Museum.
Scan the on-site QR code to access the digital application form.
Submit the required details, including your name, email address, and physical address.
Winners will be selected via lottery.

Winning Notification
Prizes will be shipped directly to the winners, and this shipment serves as the official announcement of the win. No individual notifications will be sent to those who were not selected. Any information acquired during the application process will be used solely for the shipping of products.

🛏️ View hotels near the event

Event Details & Logistics

Dates: July 20, 2026 (Mon) – September 27 (Sun)
Time: 9:00–17:00 throughout the period. (Participants are asked to refrain from playing in the early morning or at night outside these hours).
Closing Days: Please check the specific closing days of each individual location.
Locations: Nakamura Park, Odaka Okehazama, Meijo Park, Osu, and surrounding areas.
Fee: Free participation.
Contact: Nagoya City Tourism, Culture and Exchange Bureau, Tourism Promotion Division (TEL: 052-972-4611 / FAX: 052-972-4200).
Official Website: https://www.youkaidaizukan.com

Important Precautions
To ensure a smooth experience for all, please observe the following guidelines:

Staff Assistance: Staff at various locations may not know the answers or content of the riddles; please refrain from asking them for hints or solutions. Hints will be posted on the official website as needed.
Safety: Solving riddles or using a smartphone while walking is dangerous—please stop in a safe area to avoid inconveniencing others. Due to the potential danger of certain locations and the difficulty of the puzzles, children should participate with an adult.
Conduct: Please refrain from entering private property or unrelated areas. To preserve the mystery for others, do not post answers or explanations on the internet or social media.
Health: As the event takes place during a hot season, remember to stay hydrated and take appropriate breaks.
Liability: The organizers cannot take responsibility for accidents, injuries, or property damage occurring during participation.

Organization Information

Issued by: Nagoya City Tourism, Culture and Exchange Bureau, Tourism Promotion Division (3-1-1 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya City 〒460-8508).
Organizer: Nagoya City.
Co-organizers: Nagoya City Taiga Drama “Toyotomi Kyodai!” Utilization Promotion Council, Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation).
Production: Gate Co., Ltd.

Note: This project is a work of fiction and has no relation to actual persons or organizations.

Yokai are supernatural beings from Japanese folklore—spirits, demons, and inexplicable phenomena that exist at the periphery of the everyday world. The Nakamura Ward Encyclopedia project, planned for 2026, treats these figures as the foundation for a public art installation spanning Nagoya’s central district. Rather than preserving them in academic texts or museum cases, the project disperses them through the urban environment, asking participants to locate specific manifestations drawn from Aichi Prefecture legends and broader Japanese mythological traditions.

During the event period, these entities will appear in two forms: as augmented reality overlays visible through a dedicated app, and as physical installations placed in historical sites, shopping arcades, and transit stations. The selection includes regional variants of familiar figures—zashiki-warashi associated with domestic spaces might materialize in traditional cafés, while larger figures such as oni could be positioned near Nagoya Castle’s grounds. Participants use the Encyclopedia App to scan and catalog each encounter, contributing to a cumulative record of sightings across the ward.

The project structures these encounters using a tiered classification system based on rarity, ranging from common spirits to singular legendary figures. Points accumulate according to the difficulty of the find and the complexity of the associated folklore, redeemable for various rewards. More significantly, each verified sighting feeds into a permanent digital archive documenting the distribution and characteristics of these entities throughout Nakamura. The encyclopedia functions simultaneously as a game mechanic and a documentary record, mapping how traditional folklore intersects with contemporary urban geography.

This approach represents a departure from historical yokai narratives, which typically frame these beings as objects of fear, reverence, or moral instruction. Here, they serve as cultural artifacts—temporary vessels for local history and collective imagination. When the event concludes, the physical installations will be removed and the AR elements deactivated, leaving only the compiled archive and participant documentation. The yokai resume their existence as stories and digital traces, having briefly served as waypoints in an exploration of how modern cities might preserve and reinterpret their supernatural heritage.