Sayo Town is located in the Nishi-Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture.
It is also famous as a town where approximately one million sunflowers bloom in the summer.
This time, we will introduce what kind of attractions Sayo Town has.
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Where is Sayo Town?
Sayo Town is located in the western part of Hyogo Prefecture, and can be considered as a gateway to Kansai from Okayama and Tottori Prefectures.
It is easily accessible from Osaka and Kyoto with just one express train ride on the “Super Hakuto” limited express, and has been attracting attention from nature-loving tourists.
First, let’s take a look at what kind of town Sayo Town is.
The four areas of Sayo Town
出典：佐用町公式サイト
former Sayo town
former Kozuki town
former Nanko toen
former mikazuki town
Sayo Town in Hyogo Prefecture, as it exists today, was born from the merger of the four towns listed above in 2005.
In the former Sayo Town area, there is the Hirafuku district which still retains remnants of a castle town and post town, and the Hyogo Prefectural University Nishi-Harima Observatory, which has the largest telescope in Japan.
In the former Nanko Town area, there is a sunflower field where about one million sunflowers bloom every summer, as well as the Nanko Nature Observation Village, an accommodation-based outdoor facility.
In the former Kamitsuki Town area, there is Sasagao Hill Park, which used to boast the longest water slide in Japan, and Hiryu Falls, which was used as a location for the Taiga drama.
In the former Mikazuki Town area, there are notable tourist attractions unique to each region, such as the world’s highest-performance synchrotron radiation facility, SPring-8, and the National Important Cultural Property, Saimyoji Temple Wooden Statue of Hojo Tokiyori.
History of Sayo town
Source: Sayo Town Official Website The history of Sayo dates back to around 700 AD (the Nara period).
The “Harima no Kuni Fudoki” mentions “Sayo no Koori” and Sayo Tsuhime Shrine in the area. The name “Sayo” was first used around 1300 AD (the Nanboku-cho period) when the powerful Sayo clan of the Akamatsu family established their base at Nishiyama Castle in Sayo Village, Sayo County.
Around 1600 AD (the Edo period), in the territory of the Himeji domain, Yuki Ikeda (the nephew of the lord of the Himeji domain, Hideyoshi Ikeda) took the helm and construction of Toshigami Castle and the castle town of Hirafuku began.
Over the next 100 years, it passed through the territories of Hirafuku clan, Yamazaki clan, and the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate (Tenryo), and was ruled by the Matsui family, a hatamoto, until the Meiji period.
In 1871 (Meiji 4), Sayo was integrated into Hyogo Prefecture (after November 9th, it became the Kashima Prefecture), and five years later, it became part of Hyogo Prefecture through the second prefectural integration.
15 recommended gourmet and tourist spots in Sayo Town
Here are some recommended gourmet and tourist spots in each of the four former towns.
Gourmet and sightseeing spots in the former Sayo Town area
Gourmet:
Horumon Udon and Teppanyaki Fuji
GOCCIA coffee factory
Tourist spots:
Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory at Hyogo Prefectural University
Sayo’s Large Ginkgo Tree
Otsu-Okidani Tanada (terraced rice fields)
Horumon Udon and Teppanyaki Fuji
source：Horumon Udon and Teppanyaki Fuji At “Horumon Udon and Teppanyaki Fuji”, you can try the famous dish of Sayo Town, “Horumon Yaki Udon”.
Unlike other types of udon, the udon is not cooked into the dish, but rather served separately and dipped into the sauce. This is the distinctive feature of Sayo’s Horumon Udon.
Since the restaurant is usually crowded during lunchtime on both weekdays and weekends, it is recommended to come with plenty of time to spare.
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Website: http://horumon-udon.com
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GOCCIA coffee factory
Source：GOCCIA coffee factory Instagram GOCCIA coffee factory is a stylish café located in Sayo-cho.
It offers a comfortable atmosphere and amenities such as Wi-Fi and electrical outlets, making it an ideal location for those who need a workspace.
It also offers takeout options, so it’s worth stopping by if you’re on a tour or driving in the area.
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goccia.c.f/
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Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory, Hyogo Prefectural University
Source：Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory Webサイト The Nayuta Telescope, which boasts the world’s largest size as a public telescope.
The reason why Sayo-cho is known as the “City of Stars” is also derived from the Nayuta Telescope at the Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory.
Astronomical observations are conducted every night, and even the general public can feel “stars” and “space” closer to them, so when staying in Sayo-cho, please visit the observatory at least once.
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Website: http://www.nhao.jp/public/
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The Great Ginkgo Tree of Sayo
Source：The Official Website of Sayo Town Tourism Association The “Sayo no Oicho” (Great Ginkgo Tree of Sayo) is over 1000 years old and is designated as a natural monument by the prefecture.
Located in an easily accessible location, it is a 10-minute walk from Sayo Station on the JR Himeji-Sayō Line and Chizu Express, and a 2-minute walk from “Horumon Udon & Teppanyaki Fuji”.
In autumn, you can enjoy the magnificent sight of the entire area covered in yellow ginkgo leaves.
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Otsu-Okidani Tanada (terraced rice fields)
出典：The Official Website of Sayo Town Tourism Association The terraced rice paddies of Otsu-Okidani have been recognized as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
In addition to enjoying the view, visitors can also participate in seasonal activities such as planting and harvesting rice, and picking chestnuts.
If you’re interested in experiencing life in the countryside, why not visit the village of Otsu-Okidani?
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Gourmet and sightseeing spots in the former Kozuki Town area
Handmade soba restaurant “Toki”
Cafe N827
Sasagaoka Park
Hiryu Falls
Handmade soba restaurant “Toki”
Source：The Official Website of Sayo Town Tourism Association “Toki,” a cozy space renovated from an old Japanese traditional house, serves handmade soba noodles.
The chef behind this restaurant is Mr. Ishiyama, who has long and attractive white hair tied in a single knot.
After running a popular soba restaurant in Kobe, he moved to Sayo town to start a new venture.
Known for its high cost performance and popularity, it is recommended to visit Toki early for those who want to enjoy their delicious soba noodles.
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Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sobaya_toki/
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Cafe N827
Source：Cafe N827 Instagram Cafe N827 is a cafe in the mountainous area of Sayo town with the concept of “ocean”.
The store and food and drink menu are both very stylish, and it can be said to be one of the few Instagrammable spots in Sayo town.
As it is a popular restaurant where reservations are required, if you are interested, why not check the reservation status by phone?
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafe_n827/
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Sasagaoka Park
“Sasagaoka Park”, which has a big slide that was once Japan’s largest, is a popular spot for enjoying cherry blossoms in the spring.
The park also has hot spring and accommodation facilities.
When visiting Sayo during a family trip, why not enjoy the big slide together with your family?
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Hiryu Falls
Source：The Official Website of Sayo Town Tourism Association Located in this magnificent scenery is “Hiryu no Taki” waterfall, which was also used as a filming location for the NHK Taiga drama “Gunshi Kanbei”.
The spray of water falling from a height of about 20 meters is breathtaking, making it a must-visit spot when visiting Sayo.
It is not deep in the mountains or valleys, and the location is accessible by regular vehicles, so you can stop by during your free time.
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Gourmet and sightseeing spots in the former Nanko Town area
Specialty store for baked sweet potatoes “Wako”
Nankou Nature Observation Village
Nankou Sunflower Field
Specialty store for baked sweet potatoes “Wako”
Source：The Official Website of Sayo Town Tourism Association A tsuboyaki imo (roasted sweet potato) specialty shop that opened in June 2022.
The roasted sweet potatoes are carefully cooked in a 1-meter tall pot and are very sweet and delicious.
They also offer a variety of café menu items, so it might be worth a visit when you go to the sunflower field or the nature observation village.
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Website: https://r.goope.jp/enpitu58062
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Nankou Nature Observation Village
Source: Nanko Nature Observation Village Official Website “Nankou Shizen Kansatsu Mura” is an accommodation-type outdoor facility where you can enjoy both camping and sauna, which have become a recent trend.
The accommodation facilities include cottages and tree houses, and the facility offers activities such as river play, barbecue, and pizza making, making it a popular destination for tourists from all over the country throughout the year.
If you love the outdoors, please do try using this facility.
Website: https://www.nanko-camp.com
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Nankou Sunflower Field
Source：The Official Website of Sayo Town Tourism Association The “Nanko Himawari Field,” where nearly one million sunflowers bloom every year, is also one of the largest sunflower fields in the Kansai region.
As a result, a large number of tourists flock to Sayo Town every year around July.
You can easily access the town by taking the Super Hakuto limited express from Osaka or Kyoto, so if you love flowers, be sure to visit Sayo in July.
If you’re lucky, you can even enjoy the “Himawari Festival”!
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Gourmet and sightseeing spots in the former Mikazuki Town area
Taste Village Mikazuki
Sanborisan Park
Mikazuki-han Noino jinya Hall
Taste Village Mikazuki “Ajiwai no Sato Mikazuki”
Source：Taste Village Mikazuki Website “Ajiwai no Sato Mikazuki” is a restaurant where you can enjoy soba tofu and konjac made from Mikazuki’s local seasonal vegetables.
They also sell souvenirs, and their “Miso” which won the gold prize in the Nishi-Harima Food Selection 2018 is highly recommended and delicious.
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Price range:https://ajiwainosato.jimdo.com .
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Sanborisan Park
Source：The Official Website of Sayo Town “Sanbori-san Park” is a large park located on a small mountain where both parents and children can enjoy playing without hesitation, such as ball games, athletic activities, and “fun bicycles”.
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Website: https://www.town.sayo.lg.jp/cms-sypher/www/info/detail.jsp?id=736
Address:
Phone: 0790-79-2001 (Sayo-cho Mikazuki Shisho office)
Mikazuki-han Noino jinya Hall
If you want to take impressive photos in Sayo, we recommend visiting “Mikazuki-han Noinoya Jinya”, where the residence of the Mori clan, who ruled over Mikazuki in the past, has been restored, allowing you to experience the town of Sayo during the Edo period.
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Website: https://www.town.sayo.lg.jp/cms-sypher/www/info/detail.jsp?id=727
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Many gourmet and sightseeing spots are in Sayo Town.
We have introduced 15 recommended gourmet and sightseeing spots in Sayo, Hyogo Prefecture.
Although it is a small town, there are many attractive spots other than the ones introduced, so why not come to Sayo and find your favorite spot??
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