Kumano, the famous calligraphy brush town, is located 20 kilometers east of Hiroshima City, and it is situated in a basin about 250 meters above sea level, surrounded by 400-500 meter mountains such as Mt. Tokinojo. Kumano produces 80 % of the brushes in the nation, including brushes for writing, painting and cosmetics. The beginning of brush production dates back to the end of the Edo period (1600〜1867). Many farmers in the Kumano area went to work temporarily in forestry in Yoshino in Yamato( present day Nara Prefecture) during the off season. When they returned home, they bought writing brushes and ink in the Nara region and sold them to make profits on the way back home. Then they came up with an idea of making the brushes on their own.

Every year in September a brush festival is held in the precincts of Sakakiyama Shrine to thank used brushes and to wish for prosperity. First go up Mt. Tokinojo to overlook the whole town, then go down and walk to the shrine and up a hillside to have lunch. One of the main attractions of the festival is a calligraphy demonstration. A master makes a piece so large it is spread out on the ground and he walks on to paint.

◆Getting there
Take a bus for Kumano(熊野萩原), a green bus with white stripes, from Hiroshima Bus Center, and get off at Kumano Shobosho-mae(Kumano Fire Station). Turn right at the traffic signal and walk to Shogaji bus stop for a few minutes. Enter a paved road to the mountainside from there, and walk up to a housing area. Follow the signboard that reads "土岐城山" which means Mt. Tokinojo.

◆Suggested schedule

Hiroshima Bus Center(8:30)===(Hiroden Bus)===Hiroshima Station===

===Kaita===Kumano Fire Station(9:30)---Mt.Tokinojo(10:30-11:30)----

---Sakakiyama Shrine(12:30-15:30)---Kumano Shako-mae(16:00)===

===(Hiroden Bus)===Hiroshima(17:00)