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.
DetailDetailed information
- Address
- Oukitani,Sayo Town
- Related web sites
- http://34cho.com/kankou/abenoseimeitsuka-ashiyadoumantsuka/
MAPNeighborhood Information
RecommendRelated Recommended Spots
Wada Shoten
Located along Route 179, this shop offers warm, savory takoyaki and Japanese sweets such as taiyaki.
Ikkyū
Enjoy hearty home cooking at this popular diner. The main attraction is the wild game cuisine featuring steaks, minced pork cutlets, and croquettes made with venison from the Sayo region. The deer burger pairs particularly well with the homemade sauce and verges on addictive.
Statue of Hōjō Tokiyori
Hōjō Tokiyori was a shogun during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and ruled from 1246 to 1256. Tokiyori was often praised for his character, traveling the country and helping those in need. It is said that he visited this area, staying for three months due to a severe illness. Because of his extended stay, the region became known as "Mikazuki", meaning "three-day moon". Tokiyori, who received generous nursing care from the villagers, left a wooden statue he had carved and a waka poem as a token of his gratitude. After this, the village was named "Haruya," after a verse in the poem.
Hanataka Gokufuten
Enjoy workshops on pressed flower crafts and porcelain art, which involves painting on white porcelain with transfer paper. (Reservations required)
Totoro
The restaurant specializes in offal yakiudon, stir-fried noodles, and okonomiyaki, savory pancakes, made with 100% wagyu beef. They also offer four varieties of original sauce and karaoke.
Harada Kimono Shop – Sayo Branch
Explore the Sayo area's Heifuku castle town and the Nanko Sunflower Fields in traditional Japanese kimono. This rental shop offers clients a large variety of kimonos to choose from and also provides hair and make-up services. (Reservations required)
GourmetNearby Gourmet Spots
Restaurant 「Canopus」Inside the Nishi-Harima Observatory
Observatory restaurant with coffee, lunch and wild game meat. The name "Canopus" comes from Alpha Carinae, the brightest star in the constellation Carinae. Breakfast and dinner for meals, rest use and overnight guest are accommmodated. We also recommend the "Deer croquette Set meal" using venison, a speciality of Sayo Town.
Traditional Folk-House Dining Douman
This popular cafe mixes the traditional atmosphere of its architecture and antiques with modern furnishing. Spicy curry served at Douman is made with fruits, Japanese vegetables, and beef tendon, amongsts other ingredients, giving it hints of natural sweetness and making for an exquisite dining experience. The cafe also allows dogs and has a spacious dog running course in the back for owners to use.
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.
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.
"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.
HOTELNearby Accommodations
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.
Farm Inn Mitsuyama no Sato
"This 110-year-old house was restored using traditional construction methods, and is a farmer's inn that is limited to one couple per day. Visitors are warmly welcomed with a smile and the words, ""Come and have dinner with us around the chabudai (tea table),"" so you can enjoy a taste of life in the countryside from season to season , centering on farming activities such as planting and harvesting vegetables, One of the best parts is that you can also enjoy creative cuisine using seasonal vegetables and rice with the full of the power of the earth, grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers from the farm. We invite you to experience the power of diverse living creatures and the energy of the earth, and to be surrounded by rich nature for a healing experience that will reset your spirit. "
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."
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.
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.
G-style Country Club
This golf resort, surrounded by lush greenery, is the perfect getaway to relax your body and soul. The fairways are flat and wide, and the greens, covered with bentgrass, average 800m2 in size. With each of the 18 holes separate from one another, each hole brings you a new challenge, inspiring rich and strategic plays.