Tamba-Sasayama, Historic castle town in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Tamba-Sasayama is a town in Hyōgo Prefecture surrounded by forested hills, rice paddies and preserved merchant quarters arranged around the remains of a castle. The settlement sits in a valley where narrow lanes run between wooden buildings, sake breweries and small shopfronts that date from earlier centuries.
The town was founded in the early 17th century when the shogun ordered the construction of a fortified post to control the route between Kyoto and the western provinces. Over the following decades the settlement grew into a center for trade and crafts, keeping its original layout through to the present day.
The Dekansho Festival in August features traditional Bon dancing, where participants perform choreographed movements while singing folk songs about local customs and life.
Access is by train through Sasayamaguchi Station, which connects to larger cities in the region through regular services. The center can be explored on foot, with most sights and eateries located along the old castle road.
Some of the restored merchant houses along the main street now serve as overnight lodgings, letting visitors experience interiors from the Edo period. Each building keeps its own architecture, from high ceiling beams to sliding doors made of paper and wood.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
