Nishio, Commercial center in Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Nishio is a commercial center in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, stretching along the northern shore of Mikawa Bay and near the eastern bank of the Yahagi River. The city includes flat residential zones, shopping streets, and farmland that reaches toward low hills inland.
Nishio Castle was built in the 15th century and served the Sakai clan as an administrative seat throughout the feudal period. The town gained economic importance in the 19th century as a regional hub for tea growing and fishing.
The name Nishio translates as "west tail," referring to the region's historical position at the edge of traditional provinces. Narrow streets in older neighborhoods still follow the layout of former castle districts, where merchants once gathered near the fortress walls.
Trains on the Meitetsu line link the city to Nagoya in the west and Gamagori in the east, while buses serve outer districts and neighboring areas. The city center is easy to walk or cycle through, as most points of interest and shops are close together.
Nishio produces more than half of all the matcha powder made in Japan, grown in specialized shade gardens. Some of the tea gardens are open to visitors, showing the traditional methods of growing under bamboo mats.
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