SETOUCHI TOURS
Tsuwano is a small town in Shimane, in a valley with impressive castle ruins and well-preserved samurai district.
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Tsuwano is a small castle town in Shimane bordering Yamaguchi. It stands in a deep valley, overlooked by a splendid Shinto shrine, Taikodani Inari Shrine, and above that, the stone walls of the ruined castle.
The main street of the town, Tonomachi, is lined with samurai mansions. A small waterway beside the road is peopled with brightly coloured carp. Tsuwano Catholic Church on Tonomachi was built by a priest from Germany in 1931. A little museum next to it documents the persecution of Christians who were sent to Tsuwano in the early Meiji period for ‘re-education’. Between Tsuwano Station and Tonomachi is the former merchant district, where buildings of various periods, including sake breweries, have been preserved in good condition. The Tourist Office has a free museum that provides a good overview of the town.
Tsuwano Castle stands at 200 meters above the town. The keep was hit by lightning and burnt down in 1686. You can take a chairlift or walk up to the impressive ruins, and the views over the town and valley are spectacular.
Name in Japanese: 津和野
Pronunciation: tsu-wa-no
Address: Tsuwano, Kanoashi District, Shimane 699-5605
This tour visits the major sights of Ehime, Yamaguchi, Okayama, Shimane, and Hiroshima prefectures, focusing on the small historic cities of each region, and the natural wonders
This tour visits the major sights of Yamaguchi, Shimane, and Hiroshima prefectures, focusing on the small historic cities of each region, and the natural wonders found in the countryside between them.
This tour visits major sights of Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, and Shimane prefectures, focusing on small historic cities and natural wonders.