The town of Misaki is a small area—just over 49 square kilometers—and 80% of the town is mountainous. The climate is typically mild, and the area sees little rainfall throughout the four seasons. The Misaki coastline offers great views of Awaji Island—which connects the Japanese mainland to the island of Shikoku—in the distance on a clear day. This area has also been voted as one of the “Top 100 Sunset Spots in Japan.” The Izumi Mountains straddle the border between Osaka and Wakayama prefectures, and provide views of lushly forested hills.

The ancient coastal town has a recorded history that dates back to the Yayoi period (300 BCE-300 CE), and relics and remains from this period can be seen at the Tannowa Ruins. A number of small keyhole-shaped burial mounds (kofun) from the Kofun period (ca. 250-552) are also scattered around the town. These burial grounds are believed to have been for high ranking individuals such as princes and emperors. Between the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the town became a prominent transport hub for goods traveling along the Nankaido Highway between Kii Province (present-day Wakayama Prefecture), Awaji Island, and the island of Shikoku.

The fishing industry is of vital importance to the local economy, and residents have great pride in the abundance of fresh, delicious seafood which is landed off the coast. A number of fishing parks are located around the area, popular not just with locals, but also with domestic tourists from other parts of the Kansai region.

A short walk from Tanagawa Station (served by the Nankai Line) lies an old building which plays a vital role in the revitalization of the area. The building itself is about 80 years old, and was originally a traditional inn. As business slowed, the building was abandoned; called akiya, these buildings have become a common sight in many small towns across Japan. In recent years, there has been a trend in renovating akiya properties in countryside areas to help revitalize small towns, and according to project editor Noriyuki Kawaguchi, “the Misaki Community & Information Center was born in 2018 as part of a renovation project by the towners. Most of the original materials and structure of the building still remains. The small imperfections still visible around the building adds to its charm and character.”

A local furniture studio called Boo-Zhoo specializes in handmade wooden items produced on-site at the Misaki woodworking studio, which opened in 2009. The owner of the store, Toyohiko Yumiba, is originally from neighboring Nara Prefecture, and has been creating wooden furniture and items for over 20 years. While he never had a lifelong desire to move to Misaki, he found the quiet town to be quite different from the initial image of factories one might conjure up when thinking of coastal areas in the Osaka Prefecture. He eventually decided to renovate an akiya property in the town and set up shop.