Dog Trip to Shodoshima: Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village and a Step Back in Time
I Had No Idea a Movie Village Could Feel This Good
June 6, 2024 — clear skies, warm air, and we’re on Shodoshima island in Kagawa Prefecture. When I was planning this trip, I came across a place called Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village, and honestly, just the name got me excited. I’d never been to anything like it before.
One thing I have to be upfront about though — dogs aren’t allowed inside the village. So my French Bulldog Elmo stayed in the car with my wife while I went in solo. Sorry buddy. I’ll make it up to you.
What Is Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village?
Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village is a living film set built around the 1987 Shochiku movie adaptation of “Twenty-Four Eyes,” a beloved Japanese novel by Sakae Tsuboi. The story is set on Shodoshima and follows a young schoolteacher and her students through the hardships of pre-war and wartime Japan.
The village recreates an early Showa-era (1920s–30s) fishing community, complete with the original wooden schoolhouse used in filming, old-style townhouses, fishing boats, and waterways. It’s one of the most iconic spots on Shodoshima, and with a Google rating of 4.1 stars from over 3,500 reviews, it clearly leaves an impression on people.
Access and Basic Info
| Address | 931 Taura Ko, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0879-82-2455 |
| Hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (open year-round) |
| Parking | Available near the entrance |
| Website | Official Site |
Walking Through a Showa-Era Fishing Village
The Giant Barrel Bus Stop Hits You Before You Even Get Inside
I’d barely stepped out of the car when something stopped me in my tracks — a massive bus stop shaped like a barrel. Like, genuinely enormous. I actually said “what is that” out loud to no one in particular, and immediately pulled out my camera.
Standing at the entrance to the village, my first thought was honestly “oh, it’s smaller than I expected.” But the moment I walked in, that impression completely flipped. The place opens up, old buildings stretch out in every direction, and suddenly you feel like you’ve wandered into a different era entirely.
The Waterway with Little Boats Floating in It — So Much Atmosphere
One of the first things that caught my eye inside was a narrow waterway running through the village, with small wooden fishing boats bobbing gently on the surface. It sounds simple, but the atmosphere it creates is really something. I kept stopping to take photos because the scene just kept looking good from every angle.
The old wooden buildings lining the paths have this weathered, lived-in quality — the texture of the wood, the faded colors — everything feels genuinely aged in the best possible way. Walking through it, I kept getting that feeling of “wait, did I actually just time-travel?”
A Small Shrine Up on the Hill with a View of the Whole Village
There’s a slightly elevated area with a small shrine — you can spot the torii gate (traditional red gate that marks the entrance to a Shinto shrine) from below. Climbing up there gives you a panoramic view over the entire village, and that’s when it really hit me how much is packed into this place. Definitely bigger than it looks from the entrance.
You can also draw omikuji (fortune slips) up there. I pulled one. Can’t resist.
Peeking Into the Old Fishermen’s Homes
Along the waterfront section, there are old fishermen’s homes with their interiors preserved. You can’t go inside, but you can peer through the windows and doorways — and what you see inside is surprisingly detailed. Old tools, everyday household items, furniture, all arranged as if someone just stepped out for a moment.
One shot I got turned out really beautiful — laundry hanging out to dry, framed against the bright blue sky. It sounds ordinary, but it had this quality of capturing real daily life. The kind of photo you don’t plan, it just happens.
Life back then must have been tough. But looking at all of it, there was part of me thinking “I’d kind of love to spend a few days here.” Everything had character. I never got bored just wandering and looking.
The Waterfront Rest Area — Honestly One of the Best Views of the Day
Near the sea, there’s a small rest area where you can sit down, and the view from there is just open ocean stretching out in front of you. I sat there for a while doing absolutely nothing. That kind of view has a way of making you forget what you were even thinking about.
A Kaiyodo Shop — Completely Did Not See That Coming
And then, tucked inside the village, I found a Kaiyodo shop. Kaiyodo is a Japanese model and figure manufacturer famous for their incredibly detailed, hyper-realistic miniature sculptures — think museum-quality figurines of creatures, characters, and monsters. Finding one here was the last thing I expected.
There was no staff inside, just rows of figures on display. The Godzilla model was seriously impressive — I stood there staring at it for way longer than I should have.
And then I spotted figures of Kenshiro and Jagi from Fist of the North Star (a classic 80s manga/anime series). If that means anything to you, yes, they were exactly as good as you’re imagining. My energy level went up several notches.
A Dagashi Shop That Fits Right In
There’s also a dagashi shop in the village — dagashi are cheap, old-fashioned Japanese snack candies that have been around since the Showa era. The shop fits the aesthetic perfectly, like it was always meant to be there. Even just looking at it felt nostalgic, even for me.
What Worked, What to Know
What I Loved
The biggest takeaway: this place completely exceeded my expectations. I walked in thinking it might be a bit underwhelming, and it turned out to be genuinely impressive. The waterway, the boats, the old homes, the sea view — it all adds up to something that feels cohesive and real, not like a theme park. The Kaiyodo shop was a total surprise bonus. The shrine view, the omikuji, the rest area by the ocean — every section had something worth stopping for.
What to Know Before You Go
Dogs aren’t allowed inside the village. That was the one disappointment for me — I really wanted to walk through it with Elmo. If you’re traveling with your dog, someone will need to stay back with them. It’s worth knowing ahead of time so you can plan accordingly.
Final Thoughts
If you’re visiting Shodoshima, Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village is genuinely worth your time. The Showa-era fishing village is recreated with real care and detail, and walking through it has this quiet, unhurried quality that’s hard to find. The ocean views alone are worth the visit. And if you’re a Kaiyodo fan, well — consider that a bonus.
Official website → Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village Official Site