[Tamba Sasayama] Stroll through the castle town while feeling the atmosphere conveyed by history

• Table of Contents
• Tamba Sasayama’s landmark “Sasayama Castle Daishoin”
• ``Aoyama History Village'' where you can learn about the history of the feudal period at the villa of the feudal lord, the Aoyama family.
• ``Tamba Sasayama Taisho Roman Museum'' is convenient for resting, eating, and purchasing souvenirs.
• “Tamba Sasayama Hyakkeikan” is a souvenir shop with a wide range of traditional crafts.
• Japan's oldest wooden courthouse "Tamba Sasayama City Museum of History"
• ``Otori Sake Brewery Tipsy Castle Gura'' where you can sample and choose local sake
• ``Baikakudo'' is a place where you can enjoy sweets made from red beans and chestnuts.
• ``Kawaramachi Tsumari Merchant House Group'' where the townscape of the Edo period remains
• ``Samurai Residence Anma Family Museum'' where you can experience the life of the samurai family

Tamba Sasayama’s landmark “Sasayama Castle Daishoin”

The Daishoin, which was built at the same time as Sasayama Castle, was used for official events during the Edo period. When Sasayama Castle was abandoned during the Meiji Restoration, many of the buildings within the castle were demolished, but the Daishoin building remained and was used as an elementary school and girls' school.

However, it was destroyed in a fire in 1944 (Showa 19). It was rebuilt in 2000 (Heisei 12) due to strong requests from citizens, and historical materials related to Sasayama Castle are introduced through exhibits and videos.

Also, following old drawings, the layout of the rooms of Ninomaru Palace at that time is represented by mounds of earth.

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Sasayama Castle University Shoin

Address: 2-3 Kitashinmachi, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-4500

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Reception until 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the next day), year-end and New Year holidays (December 25th to January 1st)

Admission fee: 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and university students, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students [Common admission ticket for 4 buildings] 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for high school and university students, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students

*Set of Museum of History, Anma Samurai Residence Museum, Aoyama Historical Village, and Sasayama Castle University Shoin. Valid for 2 days. Prices may vary when the Museum of History holds special exhibitions.

Access: Take the bus bound for Sasayama Office from Wing Shinki “Sasayamaguchi Station”, get off at “Nikaimachi”, walk 5 minutes south to parking lot Sannomaru Nishi

Parking lot: 350 regular cars (200 yen per time on weekdays, 400 yen on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), 10 large vehicles (1,000 yen per time)

HP: https://withsasayama.jp/osyoin/

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``Aoyama History Village'' where you can learn about the history of the feudal period at the villa of the feudal lord, the Aoyama family.

``Aoyama History Village'' consists of three storehouses and a splendid nagaya gate, centered around the villa of the Aoyama family, the lord of the Sasayama domain, ``Kaiensha''. More than 1,200 woodblocks related to Chinese studies, drawings of Sasayama Castle's stone wall repairs, a sketch of the beginning of the feudal government, seal stamps, and other historical materials that tell the story of the history and culture of the Edo period are on display.

Outside, you can see a stone safe called a ``Stone Metal Chest'' that was used during the Edo period.

You can also enjoy the Tamba Sasayama Dekansho Museum, which introduces the history and culture of Tamba Sasayama, a Japanese heritage site, through videos, including Dekansho Bushi.

basic information

Aoyama Historical Village

Address: 48 Kitashinmachi, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-0056

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Reception until 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the next day), year-end and New Year holidays (December 25th to January 1st)

Admission fee: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and university students, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students [Common admission ticket for 4 buildings] 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for high school and university students, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students

*Set of Museum of History, Anma Samurai Residence Museum, Aoyama Historical Village, and Sasayama Castle University Shoin. Valid for 2 days. Prices may vary when the Museum of History holds special exhibitions.

Access: From Wing Shinki “Sasayamaguchi Station”, take the train bound for Sasayama Office, get off at “Nikaimachi”, and walk 5 minutes south.

Parking lot: 7 spaces

HP: https://withsasayama.jp/aoyama/

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``Tamba Sasayama Taisho Roman Museum'' is convenient for resting, eating, and purchasing souvenirs.

The retro Western-style building ``Tamba Sasayama Taisho Romankan'' on the north side of Sasayama Castle was built as the Sasayama Town Hall during the Taisho period. Currently, there are shops, restaurants, and a beautiful green courtyard, making it the perfect place for a short break.

The shop is lined with gibier meat, Japanese and Western sweets, and more, and you can buy items from famous local stores all at once, making it convenient for purchasing souvenirs. Locally produced organic products such as honey and black bean tea seem to be popular these days.

The in-house cafe restaurant "Marcotte" offers a variety of Western-style meals and light snacks. Black bean coffee, black bean cocoa, and black bean soft serve ice cream made with black beans unique to Tanba Sasayama are worth tasting! This is a masterpiece.

Recommended for lunch is the ``Black Bean Omelet Rice'', which is an omelette rice with chunks of black beans, served with a fluffy egg and plenty of demi-glace sauce. It's great that all the rice is Koshihikari rice grown in Tamba Sasayama.

Tamba Sasayama, where there is a large difference in temperature between day and night, is also a production area of ​​delicious vegetables. Among them, the mountain sweet potato called kiriimo is sticky and thick. A nutritious plate served with domestic beef.

The original cutlet sandwich is also popular for takeout. A hearty toast sandwich made with thick slices of the brand's "Yume no Daichi Yongenton" pork, crisply fried and seasoned with a special sauce.

basic information

Tamba Sasayama Taisho Roman Museum

Address: 97 Kitashinmachi, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-6668

Business hours: 10:00-17:00

Closed on Tuesdays: Access Wing Shinki Take the train bound for Sasayama Office from Sasayamaguchi Station, get off at Nikai-machi, and walk 1 minute south.

Parking: 90 minutes free municipal parking available on the west side of the store

HP: https://tanbasasayama.hyogo.jp/

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“Tamba Sasayama Hyakkeikan” is a souvenir shop with a wide range of traditional crafts.

``Tamba Sasayama Hyakkeikan'', located about a minute's walk north of Taisho Roman Museum, is a souvenir shop with an array of Tamba Sasayama specialties and processed goods, such as sweets and local sake.

In addition to standard products such as bread and sweets made with black soybeans, ``Yuzu Ichimi Togarashi'' and ``Garlic Ichimi Togarashi'' using chili peppers from Tamba Sasayama are also popular recently.

In addition to traditional local crafts such as Tamba-yaki and Ojizan-yaki, we also introduce pottery by artists who have recently joined the area. It's also fun to encounter new crafts.

Ballpoint pens, pen holders, and handmade chopsticks are popular in the bamboo products corner. Chopsticks made from Madake bamboo have tapered ends to make it easier to pick up food, and are available in four sizes from S to LL. Since it is something you use every day, you want to choose one that is easy to use and fits your hand size.

basic information

Tamba Sasayama Hyakkeikan

Address: 58 Nikaicho, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-5555

Business hours: 10:00-17:00

Closed: Thursday

Access: From Wing Shinki “Sasayamaguchi Station”, take the train bound for Sasayama Office and get off at “Nikaimachi”, right next to the station.

Parking: None

HP: https://100.tbsm.jp/

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Japan's oldest wooden courthouse "Tamba Sasayama City Museum of History"

``Tamba Sasayama City Museum of History'' is the Sasayama District Court built in 1891 (Meiji 24), and was actually used until 1981 (Showa 56). Currently, the exterior and old courtroom remain as they were at the time and are open to the public as a museum.

It is also one of the oldest wooden courthouses in Japan, and has been designated as a city cultural property as an important building.

You can also take cosplay-style photos wearing judge costumes and hats in a room that looks like a courtroom from the court days. In addition to the judge's seat, there is also a prosecutor's seat, a defense lawyer's seat, and a witness stand. The exhibition room also displays buried cultural properties excavated in Tanba Sasayama, as well as armor and swords left behind by samurai families.

basic information

Tamba Sasayama City Museum of History

Address: 53 Gofukumachi, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-0601

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Reception closes at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (open on holidays, closed the next day), year-end and New Year holidays (December 25th to January 1st of the following year)

Admission fee: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and university students, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students [Common admission ticket for 4 buildings] 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for high school and university students, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students

*Set of Museum of History, Anma Samurai Residence Museum, Aoyama Historical Village, and Sasayama Castle University Shoin. Valid for 2 days. Prices may vary when the Museum of History holds special exhibitions.

Access: Take the bus bound for Sasayama Office from Wing Shinki “Sasayamaguchi Station”, get off at “Kasuga Jinja-mae”, and walk east for 1 minute

Parking lot: 5 cars

HP: https://withsasayama.jp/history-museum/

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``Otori Sake Brewery Tipsy Castle Gura'' where you can sample and choose local sake

Founded in 1797 (Kansei 9), the direct sales office of Houmei Sake Brewery, which produces the refined sake Houmei, is a stately building from the Edo period and is a registered tangible cultural property of the country.

The store sells a variety of sake under the ``Homei'' brand, and you can sample and purchase most of the types. In addition to ``Yume no Tobira,'' which plays music while brewing sake, ``Sasa no Shiki,'' a daiginjo made with Yamada Nishiki, which is said to be the king of sake rice from Hyogo Prefecture, and ``Rou,'' a liqueur made with Tamba black soybeans. Orchids such as ``Orchids'' are great for home use or as souvenirs.

At the back of the shop, the main brewery, the Tipsy Castle Brewery, which was used for sake brewing until 1975, is open to the public for free. The tools actually used by the brewers, including the Tamba chief brewer, who is in charge of sake brewing, are on display, and the old koji room is also open to the public. You can learn about the history and culture of sake brewing.

basic information

Houmei Sake Brewery Tipsy Castle Brewery

Address: 46 Gofukumachi, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-6338

Business hours: 9:30-17:00

Closed: Tuesdays, New Year holidays

Access: From Wing Shinki “Sasayamaguchi Station”, take the train bound for Sasayama Office, get off at “Nikaimachi”, and walk east for 5 minutes

Parking: None

HP: https://houmei.wixsite.com/houmeisyuzou https://houmei.com/

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``Baikakudo'' is a place where you can enjoy sweets made from red beans and chestnuts.

Founded in 1909 (Meiji 42), Umekakudo is a Japanese confectionery shop currently run by the fourth generation. Traditional Japanese sweets made using skilled techniques, mainly using black soybeans and red beans from Tamba Sasayama, as well as new sweets with Western touches, are popular.

Yokan, which is sold all year round, comes in a variety of materials depending on the season.

Among them, various kinds of ``Kuri Yokan'' (from 800 yen) are popular as gifts as they are typical Tamba Sasayama sweets.

``Sasama Tart'' is characterized by its light pie-like tart pastry and fluffy almond flour pastry. There is a plain version with black beans and chestnuts, and varieties with matcha, maple, and pistachio.

basic information

Baikakudo

Address: 78-1 Tatecho, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-1311

Business hours: 10:00-18:00

Regular holiday: Thursday (open if it is a holiday)

Access: From Wing Shinki “Sasayamaguchi Station”, take the train bound for Sasayama Office, get off at “Kamitatemachi”, and walk north for 1 minute

Parking lot: 2 cars

HP: https://baikakudo.net/

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``Kawaramachi Tsumari Merchant House Group'' where the townscape of the Edo period remains

The Kawaramachi Tsumairi Merchant House Group, which has been selected as a traditional building preservation district, retains the traditional townscape of merchant houses. It was developed as a castle town when Sasayama Castle was built, and although each house has a narrow frontage of about 5 to 8 meters, it has an elongated ``Tsumairi'' architectural style that is over 40 meters deep.

This is an area where you can experience the atmosphere of the Edo period, with restaurants, general stores, and hotels operating in renovated old buildings.

basic information

Kawaramachi Tsumairi Merchant House Group

Address: 177-1 Kawaramachi, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-3380 (Sasayama Tourist Information Center)

Business hours: Free to stroll Closed days Free to stroll

Access: Wing Shinki From Sasayamaguchi Station, take the train bound for Sasayama Office, get off at Honsasayama, and walk east for 1 minute.

Parking: Yes

``Samurai Residence Anma Family Museum'' where you can experience the life of the samurai family

The Amman family was built after the great fire of 1830 (Tenpo 1), and was a samurai residence of the standard size at the time. The thatched main building and tile-roofed storehouse remain, and it is nicknamed ``SAMURAI HOUSE'' and is visited by many foreigners.

Inside the room, old documents from the Anma clan, tableware and furniture used in daily life, weapons, and historical materials are on display, allowing you to imagine the life of a samurai in the Edo period.

In the courtyard is the ``Tamba Suikinkutsu'', where water falling into a jar buried in the ground makes a pure sound.

basic information

Samurai Residence Anman Family Museum

Address: 95 Nishishinmachi, Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-552-6933

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Reception closes at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the next day), New Year's holidays (12/25 - 1/1)

Admission fee: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for high school and university students, 50 yen for elementary and junior high school students [Common admission ticket for 4 buildings] 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for high school and university students, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students

*Set of Museum of History, Anma Samurai Residence Museum, Aoyama Historical Village, and Sasayama Castle University Shoin. Valid for 2 days. Prices may vary when the Museum of History holds special exhibitions.

Access: From Wing Shinki “Sasayamaguchi Station”, take the train bound for Sasayama Office, get off at “Nikaimachi” and walk for about 15 minutes.

Parking lot: 2 cars

HP: https://withsasayama.jp/anma-samurai/

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Tamba Sasayama is a charming castle town surrounded by rich nature. In addition to the ones we have introduced, there are also new shops that have been renovated from old houses, so you can enjoy the stylish atmosphere. Why not take a leisurely stroll and have a wonderful time?

(Writer Matsuda/West Plan)

*This article is information as of October 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change.