Tanba Sasayama is centered around Sasayama Castle, which was built on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
It has prospered for a long time. The townscape includes merchant houses and samurai residences.
Enjoy a relaxing trip in this unique castle town with its many facets.
The historic town of Sasayama
Shinoyama is a town surrounded by beautiful nature and mountains.
The town of Sasayama is rich in the remnants of samurai residences and merchant houses, with stone pavements and white-walled storehouses that exude an old-fashioned charm. Scattered throughout are buildings that evoke a sense of history, including the ruins of Sasayama Castle, marking the prosperous history shaped by the area's abundant blessings.
Please enjoy the charming castle town of Sasayama, filled with the unique appeal of a place where samurai and merchants coexist.
Shinoyama Castle ruins built under the orders of Tokugawa
Shisoyama Castle, built under the command of Tokugawa Ieyasu, was constructed in a remarkably short period of just over six months, with renowned feudal lords mobilized from across the country through a national public works project. Instead of a main keep, high stone walls and towers were built, which still convey a quiet dignity today. The imposing structure of the stone walls and the calculated layout suggest a high level of completion as a military stronghold.
The castle town, developed around the castle, retains a strong division between the samurai and merchant areas that dates back to the early Edo period. In 2004, it was registered as an Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. This town, where the castle and town are integrated, is also a testament to the culture that the people have cherished and nurtured.
The 'Shinoyama Castle Great Study Hall,' which can be considered the face of Shinoyama Castle, is a prestigious building used for the lord's administrative duties and ceremonies. It was faithfully restored in 2000 based on historical materials and now towers as a symbol in the center of the castle town. From the stone walls, one can enjoy a panoramic view not only of the castle town but also of the entire Tanba-Sasayama area.
Rare wife-involved merchant groups nationwide
In the center of Kawaramachi, the town of Shisoyama, there are still rows of merchant houses built in the 'tsumairi' style from the Edo period to the Meiji era. The beautiful streets lined with townhouses, which have been woven together up to the present day, quietly tell the story of how Tanba Shisoyama thrived as a crossroads of traffic and embraced diverse cultures.
Furthermore, there are no utility poles or wires in sight on this street. This is the result of careful underground construction carried out in collaboration with the residents and the city of Tanba-Sasayama to preserve the landscape. The streetscape, where not only the buildings but also the sky and light beautifully shine, may be regarded as a "heritage of the town" that the local people have taken time to inherit and nurture.
Currently, there are cafes, pottery shops, and miscellaneous stores that make use of historic townhouses scattered throughout the area, allowing visitors to enjoy a leisurely stroll while experiencing a pleasant blend of old culture and modern sensibilities.
