Shukubamachi Hirafuku
After a 30-year period as a castle town during the Warring States period, Hirafuku flourished as the largest stopover along the historic Inaba Kaidō trade route. Remnants of history such as ancient documents and other artifacts paint a picture of the village's past, which can still be felt while strolling through the riverside streets lined with traditional buildings.
DetailDetailed information
- Address
- Hirafuku,Sayo Town
- Related web sites
- http://34cho.com/kankou/shukubamachi-hirafuku/
MAPNeighborhood Information
RecommendRelated Recommended Spots
Outdoor vacation rental Ahirunomori
"The owner, who used to run an outdoor shop in Osaka, started this hands-on home-stay experience when he moved to the area. The appealing menu includes bushcraft workshops based on the experience of former Self-Defense Forces personnel, and cycling tours using electric cross bikes. Guests are also free to use the self-built huts on the premises, so they can use the Ahiro Forest for BBQ's, ent stays and other fun activities."
Sayo Star Resort Golf Club
Spread out over nearly 123 acres of land, the resort features a golf course and tennis courts, accommodations designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, a natural hot spring, a covered, all-weather barbecue terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, and other facilities, making it ideal for golfers as well as for families and friends. The convenient location, just 10 minutes from the Sayo IC, is also a plus.
Sasagaoka-so Hotel
Sasagaoka-so is surrounded by pristine mountains and the crystal clear waters of the Chikusa River, where the natural beauty can be enjoyed throughout the year. Guests are treated to traditional Japanese kaiseki(seafood based) cuisine featuring different seasonal delicacies, including hot pot dishes in the winter. The hotel has baths made from the volcanic rocks of Mount Fuji, where guests can enjoy a soak in the region's mineral-rich natural hot springs. The hotel also offers a log house, where you can get a bit closer to nature and enjoy the natural refreshing fragrances of the wood as you relax.
Guest House Asagiri
You can rent out a traditional Japanese private house in the mountains surrounded by nature. Please spend a relaxing time as if it's your "home away from home". We have amenities prepared so that you can come empty-handed. You can enjoy barbecues, playing in the river, a bonfire, etc. with your friends and family. It is also ideal for a training camp for a group of colleagues.
The Seimei & Dōman Mounds
This spot is said to be where legendary warriors Abe no Seimei and Ashiya Dōman fought to the death. Alive during the Heian Period (794-1185), these two figures are still regularly referenced in modern pop-culture and were often historically associated with magical powers. Vistors to the area can also see "Yaritobi Bridge" where the two were said to shoot many arrows at one another during their battle, as well as "Otsuke-ba", where it is said that Seimei washed Dōman's severed head after defeating him. The Seimei Mound has existed here since the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) and the Dōman Mound since 1797.
Chuwado Confectionery
Founded in 1931, this shop offers a variety of confectionery unique to the town of Sayo, such as the "Morning Mist Rice Cake", "Sweetfish Monaka", "Deer Sponge Cake", and "Sayo Hime Yokan", which are named after the scenic morning mist in Sayo and evening mist in Tanba that has been renowned since ancient times. Visitors can try their hand at making traditional Japanese sweets (¥1,000 per person, reservation required) with the help of an artisan.
GourmetNearby Gourmet Spots
Roadside Shop Shukuba-machi Hirafuku
Hirafuku was a bustling post town along the historical Inaba Kaidō Highway during Japan's Edo Period (1603-1867). This roadside shop is the gateway for sightseeing in the Hirafuku area, where the old castle town remains. The shop offers a sales corner selling fresh local vegetables and local specialities, a restaurant serving dishes made from local ingredients, an observatory overlooking the "Ruins of Toshigami Castle", a tourist information space, and a cycle station for passing cyclists.
"A nostalgic old folk house café in the historic Hirafuku townscape. A modern ""Tea Ceremony Space"" with a sense of hybridity that transcends the boundary between Japanese and Western styles. Enjoy handmade lunches and sweets while seasonal flowers bloom. In addition, when you order coffee, we will deliver the aroma of freshly roasted beans to your seat."
Restaurant Kumotsuki
This restaurant provides specially prepared meals featuring Kobe beef and hand-picked vegetables from local farmers.
Oyasumi-dokoro Uryubara
This community center was renovated from the original residence of the Uryubara family. The Uryubara's ran a foundry business in the region from the Edo Period (1603-1867) until the beginning of the Showa Period (1926-1989). The current building, erected in 1810, has a large smoke vent built into the roof, a unique architectural aspect of buildings in the former inn town of Hirafuku. The facility offers homemade soba, allowing visitors to sit-back, relax, and enjoy a delicious meal while they tour the building.
Juju
Authentic Chinese restaurant offering homemade chili shrimp, egg rolls, and more. The popular hors d'oeuvres and vinegar miso dressing made with local glutinous soybean miso are not to be missed.
Sayo Shokudo
Enjoy a bowl of ramen or a Japanese set meal using only the finest local Sayo vegetables, rice, and seasonings. This restaurant strictly uses no additives or preservatives, ensuring the freshest and most natural local dining experience.
HOTELNearby Accommodations
Nipponia Hirafuku Post Town
This private accommodation is set in the renovated former Kimura Residence, said to have been built in the Taisho Period (1912-1926). While preserving the thick beams and traditional exterior, the house is furnished in a way that combines the atmosphere of ages past and modern comforts, with locally produced Minada washi paper used for the shoji screens and sake barrels used as tables. Visitors can enjoy relaxing on the veranda surrounding the spacious courtyard or taking a soak in the spacious bath made of Hyogo cypress.
Outdoor vacation rental Ahirunomori
"The owner, who used to run an outdoor shop in Osaka, started this hands-on home-stay experience when he moved to the area. The appealing menu includes bushcraft workshops based on the experience of former Self-Defense Forces personnel, and cycling tours using electric cross bikes. Guests are also free to use the self-built huts on the premises, so they can use the Ahiro Forest for BBQ's, ent stays and other fun activities."
Guest House Asagiri
You can rent out a traditional Japanese private house in the mountains surrounded by nature. Please spend a relaxing time as if it's your "home away from home". We have amenities prepared so that you can come empty-handed. You can enjoy barbecues, playing in the river, a bonfire, etc. with your friends and family. It is also ideal for a training camp for a group of colleagues.
University of Hyogo Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory
Located at the summit of Mount Onade, the Nishi-Harima Observatory is equipped with a two-meter aperture Nayuta telescope, one of the world's largest available for public use. Centered around the observatory, there are nature trails, lodging facilities for groups and families, restaurants, and other facilities that allow visitors to stay overnight and enjoy stargazing to the fullest. Viewing parties are held every evening for overnight guests, while a general viewing party is held on Sundays for day-trippers. Please note that reservations are required on Saturdays and holidays. Many astronomical events are held throughout the year, allowing visitors to feel closer to the stars and the universe.
Sayo Star Resort Golf Club
Spread out over nearly 123 acres of land, the resort features a golf course and tennis courts, accommodations designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, a natural hot spring, a covered, all-weather barbecue terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, and other facilities, making it ideal for golfers as well as for families and friends. The convenient location, just 10 minutes from the Sayo IC, is also a plus.
Cobaco Work&Camp
Located in front of Sayo Station, Cobaco is a coworking space open for anyone to use. The space offers an enriching lifestyle experience where people with various skills, backgrounds, and knowledge can collaborate.