Tanba Sasayama
A compact castle town in the Tamba highlands known for three premium ingredients: Tamba black beans (kuromame), Tamba chestnuts (kuri), and Tamba Sasayama beef. The preserved merchant street (Nishimachi townscape) has 300-year-old earthen-walled buildings converted to cafes and galleries. Autumn harvest festivals draw food lovers from Osaka.
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Sasayama is famous for Tamba black soybeans (kuro-mame) — the finest in Japan, grown in the foggy mountain valley. The Edo-period castle town streetscape (Bukeyashiki Street) is perfectly preserved. The Tanba ware (pottery) tradition produces a distinctive dark ceramic. October–November brings the black soybean harvest market. Combine with Fukuchiyama and Amanohashidate for a full northern Hyogo day.
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