Experience a journey back 400 years to a town near Tokyo

The streets, shops, and traditional festivals in Sawara town evoke the essence of life during Japan's Edo period in the 1600s.

Travel back in time 400 years to a town near Tokyo

The Edo period is a renowned chapter in Japan's history. While remnants of this era are scarce in the former city of Edo (Tokyo), there exists a small town not far from modern Tokyo where you'll find yourself transported back over 400 years.

Sawara, known as 'Koedo' or 'Little Edo', is a quaint town nestled in the city of Katori, Chiba Prefecture, just an hour and a half drive from central Tokyo. In the town center, preserved establishments and homes from the late Edo period stand testament to its historical richness. A defining feature of Sawara is its canal, lined with trees casting their shadows onto the water below, and wooden bridges spanning its width.

'Prosperity beyond Edo'

In the past, Sawara lay along the waterways bordering Chiba and Ibaraki. It served as a crucial route for transporting soy sauce, noodles, and rice from the countryside to Edo. Nowadays, commercial boats have been replaced by small vessels, ferrying tourists along a 500-meter stretch of the Ono River. Those living in the Edo period often said: 'If you want to glimpse Edo, why not visit Sawara? It's more prosperous than Edo.'

Today, commercial activities on Sawara's waterways are few and far between. Despite the town's revival as a tourist spot, it remains relatively unknown to foreign visitors.

Kiri Falls, a tourist, shared on her blog: 'I visited this place in late January 2018, and the only foreign face I saw was my reflection in the window of a restaurant in Sawara. Perhaps I came during the off-season, but that allowed me to have a peaceful morning trip. Along the deserted streets, I could let my imagination wander.'

The Cartographer's Miracle

A must-visit stop here is the former residence of Tadataka Ino. He was the first to complete (and accurately) map the Japanese archipelago in the early 19th century.

The house epitomizes the architecture and daily life of Edo-era inhabitants. With an earthen entrance and tatami-matted floors, it's small, simple yet airy in design. Traditional Japanese houses have the unique feature of almost being one with nature, as evidenced by the surrounding tree canopies.

If you can't fathom how Ino mapped Japan's waters, visit the roadside museum for answers. While maps might not pique your interest much, the giant hand-drawn map covering most of the wall there might leave you impressed.

Rowing through Historical Ebbs and Flows

A boat trip along the canal is a must-have experience here. A boat ticket costs 1,500 JPY (approximately 300,000 VND). Traditionally dressed boatmen will take you on a journey to admire Sawara's ancient streets. In spring and summer, the lush greenery cascading into the water adds to the allure. Various breeds of ducks also inhabit this canal. On the water surface, you'll find many bird species hunting, including white herons preying on fish living beneath the canal.

The Flavor of Sawara

The ancient houses in Sawara are impeccably preserved both inside and out. The interiors of these houses are nearly pristine. Standing here, you'll feel as though you've stepped back hundreds of years and are living the life of an Edo merchant.

Some restaurants are nestled within the grounds of historic homes, serving Italian, French, and Japanese cuisine, all surrounded by traditional gardens.

At some shops, you can even step into the backyard, where the characteristics of this era are preserved. Kiri Falls remarked that the ceramic toilets painted in blue looked too beautiful, and she couldn't bear to use them.

Katori-jingu Shrine

The next stop on the Sawara tour is Katori-jingu Shrine. Just a 10-minute bike ride through the town's countryside takes you to the shrine, built in 43 BCE. The shrine is painted black with bright yellow, green, and red accents, vibrant under the sunlight.

Festivals in Sawara

The traditional Sawara festivals are held every two years, in July and October, with a history of over 300 years. In July, the festival takes place at Yasaka Jinja Shrine, to appease the deity Gozu Tenno who caused the epidemic. The October festival is held at Suwa Jinja Shrine, to thank the gods for a good harvest.

The highlight of the Sawara festival is the procession, with 10 or more floats parading through the streets during the festival period.

The Hina Matsuri festival (also known as Girls' Day) is a prayer festival for the health and safety of girls, displaying 'hina' dolls. During the festival season, the Sawara Hinabune event is held in an area where people dress in Heian period attire, performing folk music to recreate a nostalgic atmosphere along the Onogawa River.

One of Sawara's largest events is the Suigo Omigawa fireworks festival on the Omigawa River. The festival is held annually on August 1st on the banks of the Tonegawa River near Omigawa Ohashi Bridge, now over 100 years old. This event attracts over 150,000 spectators each year.

To reach the festival venue, simply walk about 20 minutes from JR Omigawa station or drive 20 minutes from the Sawara Katori interchange on the Higashi-Kanto expressway. Visitors can also walk to Kami Ohashi Bridge within 10 minutes from JR Omigawa station.

By Kiều Dương/Vnexpress

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide