Sawara, mini-old Edo

Sawara is an historic town near Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture. It is known as the mini-Edo (old name for Tokyo) as it has a lovely historic quarter wuth many old buildings.

It was built around a canal system leading to the sea and, as in Europe, canals used to be the most reliable and safest means of transport.






In some ways it was one of gateways to old Edo and had inns, like this one,  and facilities for visitors preparing to enter the big city.







There are many "kura" which are the old reinforced storehouses where valuables were kept. They have extrememly heavy iron doors, few entrances and usally outward sloping walls. This make climbing the walls, and access through the roof more difficult.

We have been there several times and it is always very quiet. Not jammed with tourists as many historic spots often are.

Walking around you really are transported back to old Japan.

Another good thing about the place is that it isn't just a tourist town, people live and work in amongst the old buildings.

 One of our favourite places is a shop that makes and sells bamboo and wooden tools and household and traditional goods.

It has a street front shop but also a "kura" full of  good things and lovely internal gardens.

 One of the things they specialise in are bamboo implements for the tea ceremony.






We bought this whisk and water ladle from there. Really incredible hand made craftmanship.