In the mountains of central Hyogo Prefecture, the former castle grounds of Sasayama-jô designate the center of Sasayama. In its long history, the castle guarded one of the main transit roads from the western countryside into Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka. The castle was originally constructed at the beginning of the Edo Period in 1608 and was built without a keep because it was estimated to be strong enough without one. There was also concern that with the added strength of a keep, the castle would be a viable threat if it fell into the wrong hands. So instead, it was constructed with a palace similar to that found at Nijô-jô in Kyoto. It is most well-known for its construction both in method and in timing. First, it was constructed in only six months, an insanely fast speed for the time. It also took advantage of a new system at the time called the Tenka Bushin, a system of public infrastructure projects supplied and paid for by former adversaries in the Sengoku Jidai, the Warring States Period. These projects, like the construction of Sasayama-jô, were designed to drain workers and resources from the lands of enemies to further discourage them from attempting revolts or uprisings against the newly founded Edo Shogunate. It was ultimately very successful and the castle remained in its full glory until its partial deconstruction in the Meiji Period, and the bombings of WWII.

For visitors: 5.

Sasayama-jô is not going to blow your socks off like nearby Himeji-jô, but I will say it’s a very beautiful and underrated spot to get out of a car, stretch your legs, and enjoy a nice day. The castle mostly remains as fortified foundations and moat with the added flair of a reconstructed palace, but it and the surrounding town are marked as a Japan Herritage Site. Over the years the city has been able to maintain a strong connection to its past as a stopping point on the way to and from the Kansai area, and in particular Kyoto. Many of the buildings are old Kyoto town houses and the local stores look the same now as they did a hundred years ago. So while this post is about the castle, I would recommend taking the time to just walk around a bit and enjoy everything Sasayama has to offer.