Sawara, Chiba, Japan (17 June 2024)

Contents

1. Introduction and Overall Sights of Sawara

2. Plan to explore Sawara

3. Exploring Sawara

1. Introduction (given by ChatGPT)

Sawara, in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, is a historic town known as “Little Edo” for its well-preserved Edo-period atmosphere. Key attractions include:

Sawara Historic District: Traditional Edo-era buildings along the Ono River.
Ino Tadataka Museum: Showcases Japan’s famous cartographer and his works.
Katori Shrine: One of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.
Sawara Grand Festival: Celebrated with elaborate floats and traditional music.
Mitsubishi Hall (Old Toyoda House): Historic merchant residence.
Suigo Sawara Ayame Park: Aquatic Botanical Garden. Known for its stunning iris displays and boat rides.

2. Plan to explore Sawara

Walk along the Ono River
Take the Little Edo Sawara boat tour(1300yen/adult)
See Toyohashi Bridge
Visit Inoh Tadataka’s Former Residence (Free)
Visit Sawara Mitsubishi Hall
Walk around Sawara historic town and go to visitor center
Visit Suigo Sawara Float Museum (400yen)
This is a video of where I visited. https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnnmdxzBO

3. Exploring Sawara

Arrived at Sawara Station at about 1110am.

Sawara Station is a beautiful wooden station.

Then walked to the nearby 7-11 to withdraw money as well as get a map from the Sawara Tourist Information Center, which is just across the road from the 7-11.

After getting a map, I headed to stroll along the Ono River.

The stroll along the Ono River was very pleasant with many old wooden buildings lining both sides of the river. Feels like one is transported back in time.

Planning to take this boat ride along the Ono River. (1300yen/adult)

Visited Inoh Tadataka’s Former Residence (Free)

At the entrance of Inoh Tadataka’s Former Residence (Free), is where you buy tickets for the Little Edo Sawara boat tour(1300yen/adult). Do note that sale of tickets only commences 15 minutes before each tour, limited to 18pax per timing.

Based on my visit on a Monday afternoon, seems like it is quite possible to get a boat tour ticket even though there are limited slots per timing. It might be more crowded on the weekend though.

Counter for Little Edo Sawara boat tour (1300yen/adult)

I visited Sawara on a Monday morning, and arrived at this boat tour location at about 1150am but the next boat tour is only at 1pm, so I went to visit the Suigo Sawara Float Museum first. Would come back at 1245pm to buy tickets for the 1pm boat tour.

Along the way to the Suigo Sawara Float Museum, I walked passed Sawara Mitsubishi Hall. There is another Sawara Tourist Information Center just beside the Sawara Mitsubishi Hall.

Torii gate at the Yasaka Shrine (which is beside the Suigo Sawara Float Museum.)

Suigo Sawara Float Museum (400yen/adult)

Came back to the boat counter at 1240pm.

Toyohashi Bridge, which is just beside the Little Edo Sawara Boat Tour counter.

Bought my tickets for the boat tour. 1300yen/adult. The boatman was explaining some stuff in Japanese which I totally did not understand, but it was still a nice 30 minutes boat ride.