Sawara

Sawara, known as the “Little Edo of Hokuso,” is a charming Chiba Prefecture town where Edo period history comes to life. The historic district features rows of original wooden merchant houses from the Edo and Meiji periods along the Ono River, and visitors can take boat rides along the same waterways that brought centuries of prosperity.
The town’s 300-year-old Sawara Grand Festival, with its towering floats and traditional festival music, is registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Even if you visit outside the festival periods in summer (July) and autumn (October), the Suigo Sawara Float Museum (Dashi Kaikan) exhibits these ornate floats year-round, keeping the tradition alive.
Sawara’s most famous resident was Ino Tadataka, who created Japan’s first accurate nationwide map. His memorial hall displays National Treasure surveying instruments and maps, while his 200-year-old former residence across the river shows how this wealthy merchant lived during his 33 years here.
The nearby Katori Shrine, one of only three shrines granted “Jingu” status in the Heian period, houses National Treasures including ancient mirrors and artifacts. With its well-preserved townscape and living traditions, Sawara is a great place to experience the legacy of Edo culture.