October 24 / Tsuwano - A Historic Town
Tsuwano(津和野) is a castle town deep in the mountains in Shimane Prefecture (島根県). The town was formed in the 14th century around Tsuwano Castle. The castle is not existing any more, but the old samurai residences and business streets still remain in the original locations.
The first thing that catches your eyes is the red tiled roof of the houses called Sekishu Gawara or Sekishu roof tiles. They are made of the local clay, and became widely used in the snowy town of Tsuwano because they are durable in snow, freezing temperatures and fire. These red roof tiles make the scenery of Tsuwano unique.
Tsuwano Maria Chapel
Among almost all Japanese style buildings, some buildings in Tsuwano are important for Christians. During 16th century to the latter half of the 19th century, Christianity was officially prohibited in Japan, and Christians were being suppressed. Standing on the Otome Toge mountain ridge right behind Tsuwano Station, Maria Chapel is a historic spot with a sad moment in history. Here 153 Christians and their f a m i l i e s were deported from Nagasaki, and 36 of them couldn’t survive the ordeal. Their stories are drawn on the stained glass inside the building. Tsuwano Catholic Church, a Western Gothic-style masonry building in the middle of the town, also shows the history of the relationship between Tsuwano and Christianity.
Tsuwano Catholic Church
As Tsuwano is relatively a small town, most the town highlights are found JR Tsuwano Station. Tsuwano town's historic buildings and streets are beautifully surrounded by rich nature.
Honmachi Avenue, an old merchant street is just 5 minute-walk from Tsuwano Station. Well-established sake breweries, folk craft shops and Japanese sweets shops line up along the quaint cobble stone street which you can't miss. Even today despite of heavier traffic this street remains with the same shape since the 17th century.
Town’s oldest buildings and many historic spots including 400 years old samurai residents are located between Tonomachi Avenue and Honmachi Avenue. This avenue is characterized by the white walls of the samurai residences and a waterway along them. In the waterway, 20,000 colorful carp swim, and at the beginning of summer, the beautiful scenery of white and purple irises in full bloom spreads.
Taikodani-Inari-jinja Shrine worships a god for successes in business and drives away evil spirits, bringing in good luck. Vermillion-lacquered Torii (shrine gates) stand one after the other along the slope to the main shrine. 1,175 gates make a 300m-long unique tunnel.
Hori Teien is a garden of the Hori family, who was once involved in excavating silver in Iwami Ginzan. The best time to see the fall colors in the garden is from the end of October to mid-November.
Yomei-ji : 700 years old "Zen" sect temple, another place in Tsuwano for Autumn colors.
The 19th century author Ogai Mori and other local educators tombs are here.
Another highlight of Tsuwano is a steam locomotive, "SL Yamaguchi”, runs between Tsuwano Station and Shin-Yamaguchi Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture mainly on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from March to November.
Each car of "SL Yamaguchi" has different interior design and manufactured different periods (120, 100, 70 years old).
The first thing that catches your eyes is the red tiled roof of the houses called Sekishu Gawara or Sekishu roof tiles. They are made of the local clay, and became widely used in the snowy town of Tsuwano because they are durable in snow, freezing temperatures and fire. These red roof tiles make the scenery of Tsuwano unique.
Tsuwano Maria Chapel
Among almost all Japanese style buildings, some buildings in Tsuwano are important for Christians. During 16th century to the latter half of the 19th century, Christianity was officially prohibited in Japan, and Christians were being suppressed. Standing on the Otome Toge mountain ridge right behind Tsuwano Station, Maria Chapel is a historic spot with a sad moment in history. Here 153 Christians and their f a m i l i e s were deported from Nagasaki, and 36 of them couldn’t survive the ordeal. Their stories are drawn on the stained glass inside the building. Tsuwano Catholic Church, a Western Gothic-style masonry building in the middle of the town, also shows the history of the relationship between Tsuwano and Christianity.
Tsuwano Catholic Church
As Tsuwano is relatively a small town, most the town highlights are found JR Tsuwano Station. Tsuwano town's historic buildings and streets are beautifully surrounded by rich nature.
Honmachi Avenue, an old merchant street is just 5 minute-walk from Tsuwano Station. Well-established sake breweries, folk craft shops and Japanese sweets shops line up along the quaint cobble stone street which you can't miss. Even today despite of heavier traffic this street remains with the same shape since the 17th century.
Town’s oldest buildings and many historic spots including 400 years old samurai residents are located between Tonomachi Avenue and Honmachi Avenue. This avenue is characterized by the white walls of the samurai residences and a waterway along them. In the waterway, 20,000 colorful carp swim, and at the beginning of summer, the beautiful scenery of white and purple irises in full bloom spreads.
Taikodani-Inari-jinja Shrine worships a god for successes in business and drives away evil spirits, bringing in good luck. Vermillion-lacquered Torii (shrine gates) stand one after the other along the slope to the main shrine. 1,175 gates make a 300m-long unique tunnel.
Hori Teien is a garden of the Hori family, who was once involved in excavating silver in Iwami Ginzan. The best time to see the fall colors in the garden is from the end of October to mid-November.
Yomei-ji : 700 years old "Zen" sect temple, another place in Tsuwano for Autumn colors.
The 19th century author Ogai Mori and other local educators tombs are here.
Another highlight of Tsuwano is a steam locomotive, "SL Yamaguchi”, runs between Tsuwano Station and Shin-Yamaguchi Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture mainly on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from March to November.
Each car of "SL Yamaguchi" has different interior design and manufactured different periods (120, 100, 70 years old).
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