Sasayama, Hyōgo

Sasayama 篠山市
City
Top left: Kawaramachi-Tsumairi traditional houses preservation area, Top right: Sasayama Castle Site, 2nd: Taisho Roman Hall, former Sasayama Town Hall, 3rd left: Mount Mitake in Taki Mount Range, 3rd right: Dekansho Bon Odori in August, Bottom: Sasayama Historial Museum
Flag
Location of Sasayama in Hyōgo Prefecture
Sasayama Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°04′21″N 135°13′19″E / 35.07250°N 135.22194°ECoordinates: 35°04′21″N 135°13′19″E / 35.07250°N 135.22194°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Hyōgo Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Takaaki Sakai (since February 2007)
Area
• Total	377.61 km^2 (145.80 sq mi)
Population (April 30, 2011)
• Total	44,717
• Density	120/km^2 (310/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Cherry blossom
• Flower	Lilium
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address	41 Kita-shinmachi, Sasayama-shi, Hyogo-ken 669-2397

Sasayama (篠山市 Sasayama-shi) is a city in the central eastern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.

The modern city of Sasayama was established on April 1, 1999, from the merger of the former town of Sasayama, absorbing the towns of Konda, Nishiki and Tannan (all from Taki District).

As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 44,717, with 16,702 households and a population density of 118.42 persons per km². The total land area is 377.61 km².

Attractions

Main Hall, Sasayama Castle

• Yakami Castle Ruins
• Sasayama Castle Ruins
• Mount Mitake
• Mount Nishigatake
• Mount Koganedake
• Mount Yajuro
• Aoyama Heritage Village (Aoyama Rekishi Mura)

Transportation

Sasayama has five train stations, all on the JR West Fukuchiyama Line:

• Kusano Station - Furuichi Station - Minami-Yashiro Station - Sasayamaguchi Station - Tamba-Ōyama Station

Festival

The Dekansho Festival, famous for "Bon" style dancing, is held annually, every August 15 through 16th since 1952.^[1]

Food

Sasayama is well known in the Kansai region for its agriculture and food products, specifically: kuromame or kuro daizu (black soybeans), mountain yam, Japanese chestnuts, azuki beans, matsutake, beef, wild boar and deer meat.

Sister cities

• Walla Walla, Washington, United States (August 15, 1972)
• Korinthos Mikines Nafplio Epidavros, Greece (May 26, 1988)

References

1. http://www.city.sasayama.hyogo.jp/indexdeka.html

External links

• Sasayama City official website (Japanese)
• Sasayama City official website (English)