Hofu Tenmangu Mitokuji temple Izumo Taisha Omori Silver mine Xavier memorial church peace memorialpark miyajima sanctuary_outline Shukkeien Adachi garden Ikouji Rurikouji temple Amida-ji Sourin-ji Kourakuen Japanese trad.Garden_outline Matsue Yonago Shimonoseki Okayama Hiroshima HAB CITY_outline TSUYAMA TSUWANO MATSUE CHOFU IWAKUNI HAGI SAMURAI towns_outline ONOMICHI YANAI TAKEHARA KURASHIKI TOMO SHIMOKAMAGARI Xavier Cathedral SHIMONOSEKI Washi Touken Bizen Pottery Hagi Pottery & Kilns Japanese trad.artcrafts Experience-outline GEGEGENO Kitaro Matsuda museum Naval Base of Kure MAZDA,Hofu plant Modern Japan-outline Kirin beer Park in Okayama Tottori sand dune Mt.Fuji of Sanin DAISEN SHINJI Lake Iwami coast Oki Hagi coast Nagato SANIN COAST-outline SHUHODO Trail to Hikimi Hiruzen Highland Kibi Highland Tsuyama Travel with Stream locomotive Deep Inland Tour-outline SETO-OHASHI Seto-inland seas OANORAMA view Tiboli Park Tokiwa Park Inland-sea-outline List of Japanese terms Bathing in Japan 7seafood of the Lake Shinji Blow fish Stone fish Show Crab Oysters Buchwheat Noodles Peach and Other fruits Okonomiyaki
 
 
Located in mountain valley about 300 meters wide along the Tsuwano river, this town has earned the name of “Little Kyoto” for the area. Here you can see life as it used to be for the Japanese, as the town is located in a relatively remote area and a large section of it retains the Samurai design of eras past and thousands of enormous and colorful carp that have been protected by local edict from centuries back swim in them and are fed by the tourists.

Carp were also traditionally kept in private ponds in the gardens of local residents' houses. Although the practice has fallen off in past years, there are still some who maintain the traditional carp pond and some of these are open to viewing by the public.

One particularly picturesque facet of Tsuwano is its waterways. The river has been diverted into a network of city culverts (there are small "canals" that run along the sides of the sidewalks), 		 
     
 
There is a museum(Hokusai museum)dedicated to the Japanese master woodblock artist Hokusai in Tsuwano. Those with even a slight interest in art will not want to miss this, as Hokusai's work had a significant effect on western art, especially the Impressionists of the late 1800s. The museum is small, but houses many of Hokusai's more famous works, one original sketchbook, and has a series showing the process of coloring that went into creating a finished woodblock print.

Although Tsuwano is a small town and walking doesn't present a problem for getting around the main tourist area, some of the temples, churches and samurai residences lie outside the main area. If you have an interest in these, rent a bike to get around. Four different churches, temples and shrines are located in the vicinity for those who are interested in comparative religion. There is also a washi factory (Tsuwano washi-koubo)
where traditional Japanese paper is made. You can try your hand at this, starting from scratch with reeds from the local river.

Steeped in Japanese history and culture, Tsuwano has made a serious effort at attracting tourists from all areas, and there are lots of English language materials available. If you are anywhere in the area, Tsuwano is worth the trip. 		 
     
 
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