The Fukuzumi Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings is located in Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture. Designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, this area boasts charming traditional houses that vividly retain the atmosphere of the Edo period, when it flourished as a post town on the Saikyo Highway.
The preservation district is expansive, covering approximately 25.2 hectares (east-west: approximately 3,260 meters; north-south: approximately 460 meters). Four villages—Fukuzumi, Kawara, Yasaguchi, and Nishinono—are strung along the Saikyo Highway.
Fukuzumi, developed as a post town in the Edo period, housed the main inn (honjin) and the secondary inn (wakihonjin). The houses lining the streets are characterized by their gable roofs, often two-storied with a recessed entrance (tsumairi), tile roofing, or single-storied with thatched roofs (now mostly replaced with metal roofing).
Kawara, Yasaguchi, and Nishinono, located on the outskirts of the post town, played a supporting role. Houses in these villages also line the street, but they are characterized by narrower frontages and deeper lot sizes than those in Fukuzumi.
The Fukuzumi Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings is a precious townscape where the post town and farming village harmoniously coexist. It’s a delightful place for a historical stroll. The surrounding countryside offers a peaceful atmosphere. If you have time, consider visiting nearby attractions, such as Sasayama Castle and the Sasayama City History Museum, to further explore the history and culture of Sasayama City.
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