Hirafuku is a historic district in Sayo Town, Sayo District, Hyogo Prefecture, known for its traditional streetscape, cultural heritage, and beautiful natural surroundings. Once an important post town along a major travel route, it retains the atmosphere of an earlier era. Its riverside scenery, traditional storehouses, historic residences, and castle ruins make it an appealing destination for travelers interested in Japan’s history and rural landscapes.
Hirafuku is especially famous for its picturesque riverside district, often called the Kawabata Landscape. Traditional red-brown earthen storehouses and riverside residences line the banks of the Sayo River, creating a distinctive townscape that evokes Japan’s past. The area’s historic streets and buildings have also made it a popular filming location for Japanese period dramas.
From autumn through winter, beautiful morning mist sometimes settles over the surrounding landscape, creating an atmospheric view of the old town. Nearby Ohtakidani is also worth exploring; its terraced rice fields have been selected for Japan’s list of 100 Best Terraced Rice Fields.
Hirafuku’s history stretches back to the medieval period. Its development was closely connected with nearby Rikan Castle, which stood on Mount Rikan across the Sayo River and later became the center of a castle town.
In 1333, Emperor Go-Daigo is said to have passed through Hirafuku on his way to the capital after escaping from exile on the Oki Islands. In 1349, Bessho Atsunori built Rikan Castle on Mount Rikan, which rises approximately 373 meters above sea level.
In 1578, the castle fell during Hashiba Hideyoshi’s campaign to conquer the Chugoku region. In 1601, Ikeda Yoshiyuki renovated the castle and developed a castle town that formed the basis of Hirafuku’s present-day historic district. The castle was completed in 1605.
In 1615, Ikeda Teruoki took control of the domain, establishing the Hirafuku Domain. However, in 1631, he was transferred to the Ako Domain, and the Hirafuku Domain was abolished. Rikan Castle was also abandoned. Between 1631 and 1644, a fortified administrative residence, or jin’ya, was built under the control of Hatamoto retainer Matsudaira Yasuaki.
Rikan Castle, also known as Un’ei Castle, or Castle Above the Clouds, is a mountain castle whose impressive stone walls remain on the summit of Mount Rikan. Its elevated position and surviving masonry offer a glimpse into the region’s medieval and early Edo-period military history. The ruins are particularly striking when mist surrounds the mountain.
Several historic residences contribute to Hirafuku’s distinctive streetscape. The Uryuhara Jiro Residence, Uryuhara Tsuneo Residence, and Maekawa Residence have been designated Important Buildings for Landscape Formation by Hyogo Prefecture. Their traditional architecture helps preserve the character of this former post town.
The Uryuhara family also operated a foundry business known as Fukiya, which continued from the middle of the Edo period into the early Showa period. The family’s history reflects the commercial activities that supported the town over several centuries.
The Hirafuku Jin’ya Gate is a surviving structure associated with the former local government compound. It was built in the late Edo period by Sasaki Heihachiro, an administrator who served in the area. The gate provides a tangible connection to the period when Hirafuku was governed through a regional administrative office rather than a functioning castle.
The former Hirafuku Honjin served as an official lodging facility for the Ikeda clan of the Tottori Domain. Today, the site is used as an otabisho, a temporary resting place for portable shrines associated with the nearby Susanoo Shrine during festivals.
The former Tazumi Residence belonged to a prominent village headman family connected by lineage to the family of Miyamoto Musashi’s stepmother. The property retains a traditional Japanese pond-viewing garden believed to date from the Genroku era (1688–1704). It offers an insight into the refined residential culture of the Edo period.
Hirafuku Local History Museum is housed in a traditional merchant-town building. Its exhibits introduce the region’s history and culture, helping visitors understand the lives and industries of the people who lived in this historic community.
Tatsunoya Soy Sauce Main Store is a long-established soy sauce producer whose origins date to the early Edo period. The shop represents Hirafuku’s enduring tradition of local commerce and traditional food production.
Founded in 1640, Susanoo Shrine is one of the area’s historic places of worship. It is designated as a shrine eligible to receive offerings of food and cloth from the government during official ceremonies, reflecting its longstanding religious significance.
Komyoji Temple, whose mountain name is Jūrinzan, is traditionally said to have been founded in 716 by the Buddhist priest Gyoki. It is also counted among the Six Jizo Temples of Harima, a group of temples associated with worship of Jizo, the Buddhist guardian of travelers and the deceased.
Koshoji Temple, known by the mountain name Gyokozan, is notable for its temple gate, which is said to have been relocated from Rikan Castle. The gate preserves a physical link between the former castle and the region’s Buddhist heritage.
Shogakuji is a Jodo-shu Buddhist temple associated with the priests Hodo and Gyoki. It also served as the family temple of successive local rulers, making it an important site for understanding the religious and political history of Hirafuku.
Near the foot of Kanakura Bridge is a site associated with the first duel of the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. According to tradition, Musashi fought Arima Kihei of the Shinto-ryu school here when he was just 13 years old. The nearby Kanakura Six Jizo statues commemorate the Buddhist tradition of Jizo worship and add another layer of historical interest to the area.
Roadside Station Shukubamachi Hirafuku provides local specialty products and tourist information. It is a convenient place to take a break, discover regional goods, and gather information before exploring the historic town and its surroundings.
Hirafuku is approximately a five-minute walk from Hirafuku Station on the Chizu Express railway line. The station building is designed to resemble a traditional earthen storehouse, echoing the architecture of the historic district. It has been selected for the Kinki region’s 100 Best Railway Stations, a recognition of its distinctive design and local character.