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About
Sakura City is in Chiba Prefecture about a one hour ride on the train from Tokyo and a 25 min. ride from Narita International Airport. These days it is considered a "Bed Town" which is Japanese slang for; A suburban place where people live in housing communities and commute to work (sometimes to far places like downtown Tokyo). Although the city has built up into your typical modern Japanese mid-sized city, it also retains a lot of it's history and charm. There is a lot to see in Sakura and being so close to the Intl. airport it makes a nice little side-trip, along with Narita and Sawara, if have you only have a short stay in Japan.
Sakura City and the area around Sakura has been inhabited by people from ancient times. Pottery from the Jomon Period (14,000 - 300 BC) and Kofun Period (1,000 BC - 300 AD) burial tumuli have been found by archaeologists in the area. The first major clan to control the area was the Chiba Clan during Kamakura and Muromachi periods (1100s - 1500s) but after fighting with the Satomi Clan to the south in Chiba Prefecture and the Hojo Clan to the west from the Yokohama area the Chiba Clan's power faded and the Hotta Clan was given control of the Sakura Domain and castle by Tokygawa Ieyasu until the fall of the Shogunate and the Meiji Restoration in 1866. During the Hotta Clan reign, the town became a large "Castle Town" as Sakura Castle was a dominant and important strategic defensive position protecting Edo's (i.e. Tokyo's) eastern flank.
Sakura City is in Chiba Prefecture about a one hour ride on the train from Tokyo and a 25 min. ride from Narita International Airport. These days it is considered a "Bed Town" which is Japanese slang for; A suburban place where people live in housing communities and commute to work (sometimes to far places like downtown Tokyo). Although the city has built up into your typical modern Japanese mid-sized city, it also retains a lot of it's history and charm. There is a lot to see in Sakura and being so close to the Intl. airport it makes a nice little side-trip, along with Narita and Sawara, if have you only have a short stay in Japan.
Sakura City and the area around Sakura has been inhabited by people from ancient times. Pottery from the Jomon Period (14,000 - 300 BC) and Kofun Period (1,000 BC - 300 AD) burial tumuli have been found by archaeologists in the area. The first major clan to control the area was the Chiba Clan during Kamakura and Muromachi periods (1100s - 1500s) but after fighting with the Satomi Clan to the south in Chiba Prefecture and the Hojo Clan to the west from the Yokohama area the Chiba Clan's power faded and the Hotta Clan was given control of the Sakura Domain and castle by Tokygawa Ieyasu until the fall of the Shogunate and the Meiji Restoration in 1866. During the Hotta Clan reign, the town became a large "Castle Town" as Sakura Castle was a dominant and important strategic defensive position protecting Edo's (i.e. Tokyo's) eastern flank.
Access
If you have a JR pass riding the JR train makes more sense but if you don't have a JR pass, the Keisei Train is most likely the best choice to get to Sakura. Both stations are about equal distance to all the main attractions in Sakura.
Hotels & Lodging
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Area Map
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Attractions
Here is a list of some of the top Attractions in & nearby Sakura. View all Attractions in Sakura.
Katori Shrine
Hours: Always open
Cost: Free
Map: Google Map
Katori Shrine is a very important Shinto shrine in Chiba Japan as it is one of only three shrines given the label "Jingu" predating the Edo Era (the other two shrines are Ise Shrine and near by Kashima Shrine). A "Jingu" level ranked shrine protects the nation and appeases the gods. It is also the... more details
Kashima Shrine
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free for the grounds. Treasure Exhibit - 15+: 300 yen, Under 13: 100 yen (free on Saturdays and Sundays)
Map: Google Map
Kashima Shrine or Kashima Jingu is a very important and powerful Shinto Shrine in Japan. It is located in Ibaraki Prefecture, North-East of Tokyo, and can be reached in about a 2 hours by train or direct bus. Kashima Shrine, along with Ise Grand Shrine and near by Katori Shrine, is one of only thr... more details
Naritasan
Hours: Always open
Cost: Free
Map: Google Map
Naritasan or the full name of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple (in Japanese; Naritasan Shinshouji, 成田山新勝寺) is a large Buddhist temple complex in Narita City close to Narita International Airport which is about an hour East of Tokyo. It is very popular with Japanese and foreign tourists alike... more details
Sawara and Little Edo
Hours: This is a Area, therefore each establishment has it's own hours but generally shops in Japan generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. while restaurants are generally open until 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m.
Cost: Each establishment's cost is different.
Map: Google Map
Sawara is the name of the main train station in Katori City. It is about 70 kilometers from Tokyo in a northeastern direction in the prefecture of Chiba and only 15 kilometers from Narita International Airport. There is an area in Katori City (near Sawara Station) called the "Suigo District" which... more details
Tsukamoto Museum
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed: Weekends, Mondays, public holidays, and New Year holidays. Open third Saturday of every month if not a public holiday.
Cost: Free
Map: Google Map
Tsukamoto Art Museum is a small private collection of Japanese Katana swords out in Chiba Prefecture in the town of Sakura. Admission is free and curators are anxious and happy to answer any questions you may have. The Museum also responds to requests for valuations and other advice about Japanese... more details
Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays (except national holidays, then closed next non-holiday), Year End and New Year Holidays. Also during exhibit changes.
Cost: 18+: Generally around 1,000 yen. | Under 18: Generally around 600 yen.
Map: Google Map
The Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art is a "World Class" art museum in the city of Sakura out in Chiba Prefecture near Narita International Airport. Although the museum is is too far to walk to from any train station, there is a free shuttle bus from Sakura Station which will get you to the muse... more details
Samurai Residences
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (last entry 4:00 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays or following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday. Dec. 28 - Jan. 4 (New Year holidays)
Admission Cost: 18+: 210 yen, Under 18: 100 yen
Website: Homepage (Japanese Only) and Video
Map: Google Map
Nearest Station: from JR Sakura Station: approx. a 15 min. walk, from Keisei Sakura Station: approx. a 20 min. walk
The Samurai Residences (佐倉武家屋敷 - Samurai Bukeyashiki) in Sakura are another interesting stop on your visit to Sakura City. Sakura town built up around Sakura Castle and these residence are the actual homes of Samurai retainers that lived in the town. The Kawara Residence, Tajima Residence and Takei Residence can be viewed and explored.
Residence and Garden of Lord Hotta
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (last entry 4:00 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays or following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday. Dec. 28 - Jan. 4 (New Year holidays)
Admission Cost: 18+:320 yen, Under 18: 160 yen
Website: Homepage (Japanese Only) and Video
Map: Google Map
Nearest Station: from JR Sakura Station: approx. a 20 min. walk, from Keisei Sakura Station: approx. a 20 min. walk
The Residence and Garden of Lord Hotta (旧堀田邸(さくら庭園)) in Sakura was the residence of Lord Hotta, the last lord of the Sakura Domain. The Hotta clan was the largest clan in Shimosa Province, which is now part of Chiba Province, and ruled for over 144 years. The home was built in the 1890s and retains most of the original features. The residence itself and the garden are both designated as National Important Cultural Properties. If you want to see a pristine, beautiful Japanese home as they were built in the old days, the Hotta Residence is a great little side-trip you will enjoy.
Dutch Studies School
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays or following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday. Dec. 28 - Jan. 4 (New Year holidays)
Admission Cost: General: 100 yen, Student 50 yen
Website: Homepage (Japanese Only) and Video
Map: Google Map
Nearest Station: from JR Sakura Station: approx. a 15 min. walk, from Keisei Sakura Station: approx. a 20 min. walk
Dutch Studies School (佐倉順天堂記念館 - Sakura Juntendo) in Sakura was a Dutch Studies School (Rangaku in Japanese) during the late 1800's. Believe it or not, Holland was the main economic force at the time and many Japanese were interested in studying the Dutch language, medicine and Dutch economics at the time. The Lord of Sakura Domain at the time (Hotta Masayoshi) was fascinated with Western and specifically the Dutch and built the school in 1843.
Culture Center
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Mondays or following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday. Dec. 28 - Jan. 4 (New Year holidays)
Admission Cost: Free
Website: Homepage (Japanese Only) and Video
Map: Google Map
Nearest Station: from JR Sakura Station: approx. a 15 min. walk, from Keisei Sakura Station: approx. a 20 min. walk
The Culture Center (佐倉新町おはやし館 - Sakura Shinmachi Ohayashikan) in Sakura offers visitors and residents a place to hang-out, view and experience local culture, events and products. The center has various displays showing objects from festivals and events that are used in Sakura at various times during the year. The Sakura Culture center also offers various classes and rehearsals teaching traditional music that is played at the Sakura festivals.
Bamboo Forest Trail
Hours: N/A
Closed: N/A
Admission Cost: N/A
Website: Homepage and Video
Map: Google Map
Nearest Station: from JR Sakura Station: approx. a 15 min. walk, from Keisei Sakura Station: approx. a 20 min. walk
The Bamboo Forest Trail (ひよどり坂 - Hiyodorizaka) in Sakura is a not very well known yet fun and very pretty little trail you can walk through on your visit to Sakura. Samurai, Geisha and regular town folk used the trail on their daily treks from A to B. Lined by tall bamboo, the Hiyodorizaka trail is very beautiful and you can even rent a Samurai or Kimono and walk the trail to give yourself that feeling of a bygone era.
