東国水郷 TOGOKU SUIGO

Suigo Retro Stroll

Welcome to Suigo, a district full of feeling, where you can tour the waterfronts of Sawara and Itako

Sawara, Katori City, and Itako are waterfront towns that flourished as key locations for waterway transport on the Tone River during the Edo period. After taking a stroll through Sawara, a townscape which will make you feel as if you have slipped back in time, how about setting out on a boat tour around the distinctive bridges of Itako?

1. Strolling through streets with Edo-style elegance / Sawara Townscape (Katori City)

Sawara flourished so remarkably during the Edo period that it was referred to as “Edo Masari” (superior to Edo).
The former residence of Tadataka Inoh and historic merchant houses line the banks of the Ono River. It is a popular spot with many cafes and restaurants that visitors can drop into during their stroll.

●Information

Tel 0478-50-1212 (Katori City Commerce and Tourism Section)
Parking Available (paid parking)
Access 10 min. walk from JR Sawara Station
Website https://www.city.katori.lg.jp/sightseeing/machinami/index.html

2. A tradesman from Sawara who made a map of Japan using modern surveying techniques / Inoh Tadataka Museum (Katori City)

Inoh Tadataka, who from the age of 17 ran a sake brewery and other businesses in Sawara, and from the age of 55, using his accumulated wealth, surveyed all of Japan and created Japan's first measured map. The memorial hall exhibits his achievements. The museum has a collection of 2,345 national treasures, such as maps and letters, with exhibits rotating every two months.

●Information

Tel 0478-54-1118
Address 1722-1 Sawara-i, Katori City
Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Regular Holiday Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)
Admission Fee 500 yen (adult)
Parking No parking lot
Access 11 min. walk from JR Sawara Station
Website https://www.city.katori.lg.jp/sightseeing/museum/

3. Baked aged sweet potatoes full of sweet flavor / CAFE NETAIMO (Katori City)

NETAIMO is a cafe located in the Sawara Machiya-kan Building. The NETAIMO sweet potatoes are grown by Shibayama Farm in Katori City and have been aged in a low-temperature storehouse. You can taste the rich and sweet flavour of sweet potato while drinking their "IMOPPUCCINO".

●Information

Address Sawara Machiya-kan, 499-1, Sawara-i, Katori City
Business Hours 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Regular Holiday Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)
Parking No parking lot
Access 10 min. walk from JR Sawara Station
Website https://mryanase.co.jp/shop/cafe-netaimo/

4. An old family home inn with neat tatami rooms / Isoyama Residence, Historical Japanese-style Riverside Home

The Isoyama Residence was built in 1899 and is an old private home which has been renovated into an inn. Equipped with comfortable facilities, this is an accommodation which is limited to one couple per day. The skillfully crafted kumiko (braided) woodwork is well worth making a visit.

●Information

Address 595 Itako, Itako City
Hours Overnight stay: Check-in 3:00 p.m., Check-out 11:00 a.m. Tours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (if no overnight stay)
Fee 55,000 yen house charter fee (meals are extra)
Regular Holiday Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)
Parking Available
Access 7 min. walk from JR Itako Station
Website https://itako-isoyamatei.com/

5. Stone warehouse cafe in the image of a daimyo's city storehouse / Cafe Tsugaru (Itako City)

This cafe was opened in "Tsugaru Riverside Ato Plaza" where the warehouses of the Tsugaru-han were located during the Edo period. We recommend their crispy apple pie made from Aomori apples and served with handmade gelato.

●Information

Tel 0299-94-2800 (Itako Machizukuri Tourism Department)
Address 591-1 Itako, Itako City
Business Hours 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Regular Holiday Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday)
Parking Available
Access 7 min. walk from JR Itako Station

6. Recalling a water town that flourished due to waterway transport / Maekawa River Tour (Itako City)

The Maekawa River, which flows through the center of Itako City has 12 bridges of various sizes, including the Shinsuiun Bridge, a double-arched bridge which is rare even within Japan. In the spring, visitors can peacefully enjoy cherry blossoms and wisteria blossoms from a tour boat.

●Information

Tel 0299-63-2211 (Itako Shanti Palace Tokita)
Address 97-1, Itako, Itako City
Business Hours Reservation required
Fee 5,000 yen for approximately 30 minutes of the Maekawa River Sightseeing Course (this is the charter fee for up to 5 persons; an extra 1,000 yen per each additional person)
Parking Available
Access 5 min. walk from JR Itako Station