Tsuwano, Historical castle town in Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Tsuwano is a town in Kanoashi district within Shimane Prefecture in Japan. The central street displays buildings with white walls and dark roof tiles while water channels with colorful koi carp run alongside the pathways.
The Kamei family ruled this area during the Edo Period and developed the castle along with the settlement below. In 1868 Christian believers were persecuted and imprisoned here.
Visitors walk through a network of water channels that once supported samurai estates and now host carp populations fed daily by locals. The fish appear in almost every corner of the old district and have become symbols of the community identity.
A steam train runs on weekends and holidays between March and November connecting the town to Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Most points of interest lie within walking distance in the old quarter.
The Washibara Shrine hosts demonstrations of Shinto archers on horseback during festivals and maintains martial arts from past centuries. These riders wear historical armor and display techniques passed down through generations.
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