Fukuchiyama Castle – Sai-no-Kami-no-Fuji（Japanese wisteria） Park – Ashiginu Ogumo-no-sato

The departure point, Fukuchiyama, is the gateway to the Kyoto by the Sea area. The castle town is centered around Fukuchiyama Castle and features many rich historical sites. Since many nearby areas can be accessed from here, it’s ideal as a starting point for travelling around Tango.
Fukuchiyama Castle was built around 1579 as a stronghold for Akechi Mitsuhide’s conquest of this western region. It was built by renovating a mountain castle into one that was modern for the era. The castle was demolished in the early Meiji period (1868-1912), but the main keep was rebuilt due to public interest in 1986. Visitors can climb up inside the castle keep for a view out over the city of Fukuchiyama. The levees, known as ‘Akechi-yabu’ that Akechi Mitsuhide built to protect against the Yuragawa River, which often overflows its banks, can also be seen.

The Oe District, which includes Sai-no-Kami-no-Fuji（Japanese wisteria） Park, is a lush mountain valley area where Shuten-doji (‘sake-drinking lad’) and other demon legends originate. Mt. Oe, designated as Tango-Amanohashidate-Oeyama Quasi-National Park, offers mystical views of the surrounding area.
The wisteria that grow at Sai-no-Kami-no-Fuji（Japanese wisteria） Park are estimated to be around 1200 years old, and were designated as a Natural Monument of Kyoto Prefecture in 1983. The park’s light purple wisteria are awe-inspiring to see when they bloom all at once, and include six ‘Yamafuji’ wisteria of various sizes, including those with vines up to 180 cm in diameter, and those with branches stretching about 30 meters in all four directions. The best time to view the wisteria is from late April to early May.

Have lunch at Ashiginu Ogumo-no-sato, located at the foot of Ogumo Bridge which spans the Yuragawa River. The grounds of the residence of the historical Hirano family, which prospered by transporting goods along the Yuragawa River in the early Meiji period (1868-1912), were reformed to include the accommodation facility ‘Ogumo-jyukusha’, and restaurant ‘Kiryokutei’, and ‘Ogumo Memorial Hall’ which offers rooms from the former Hirano residence. Restaurant ‘Kiryokutei’ was designed with the concept of ‘a demon’s tea house’, and offers views of the Yuragawa River along with meals. Set meals include udon and soba noodles, as well as ‘egoma soba’ noodles made with Oe’s specialty ‘egoma’ perilla.

Hanshin Sky Sports Paraglider School – Michi-no-Eki Silk-no-machi Kaya – Refre Kaya-no-sato

Hanshin Sky Sports Paraglider School – Michi-no-Eki Silk-no-machi Kaya – Refre Kaya-no-sato From here head to Yosano Town On the western side of Mt. Oe, look for the billboard after Kaya Ohashi Bridge on National Route 176 and continue to Hanshin Sky Sports.
For the Tandem Course (for 2 people, JPY 10,000, tax included) there is no need to control the paraglider on your own as you will fly with an instructor. Even first-time flyers can enjoy this course which takes you on a flight starting from 420 meters above sea level. We recommend the Tandem Flight Plan (from JPY 17,196, tax included) which is included in the set plan with accommodation at Refre Kaya-no-sato. There is also an Experience Course (JPY 9,000, tax included) on which participants fly solo while receiving instructions via radio at a height of 20 meters. This course lasts for 4 hours, during which participants can fly as many times as they like.

Head north on National Route 176 to reach Michi-no-Eki Silk-no-machi Kaya in a few minutes. This roadside station is known as the ‘station of Yosano vegetables’, and offers fresh locally grown fruit, vegetables, and processed goods, and has Tango ‘chirimen’ silk fabrics on display and for sale. There are a variety of silk products available which make perfect gifts.

In addition to the hotel ‘Mori-no-yado’, Refre Kaya-no-sato also offers ‘Mori Restaurant’ and baths which can be used even by those who are not staying at the hotel, making it popular among locals as well. The approach to the facility has a pleasant atmosphere as visitors pass through a green wooded area and over a small bridge that spans a limpid stream. ‘Mori-no-Yado’ offers six Western-style rooms and two Japanese-style rooms, both of which provide guests with a relaxing space to listen to the murmuring of the stream and the song of birds. At the Mori Restaurant, a wide range of mildly seasoned meals are prepared with fresh ingredients harvested locally, including rice, vegetables, and herbs. Here the dressings, sauces, and other items are handmade, and many ingredients including seasonings are made in Japan. The baths feature medicinal water using fresh herbs for a refreshing feeling.

Chirimen Kaido Street (Yosano-cho Kaya Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings) – Former Bito Family Residence

The entire Tango Peninsula has history as an area producing silk items since ancient times. Tango ‘chirimen’ silk fabric, which came about in the Edo period (1603-1868) brought the region into the spotlight as the only producer of silk items in the country, and that history and culture is now registered as Japan Heritage under the title “Tango Chirimen Textile Road A 300-Year History of Weaving Silk Crepe Textiles”. The Kaya area of Yosano Town was indispensable in the creation and proliferation of Tango chirimen, and flourished as a center of trade connecting Tango and Kyoto.
Even today, the many buildings—including residences, storehouses, crepe textile factories, and worker lodgings—constructed in this silk town from the Edo (1603-1868) to early Showa (1926-1989) periods lend the area a historical atmosphere.

Anyone walking down Chirimen Kaido Street should pay a visit to the Former Bito Family Residence which is a designated Tangible Cultural Property of Kyoto Prefecture. The Bito family prospered as wholesalers of raw silk chirimen, with the 10th generation head of the family serving as president of Tango Bank and 11th generation head serving as president of Kaya Railway and Kaya Town Mayor. The Former Bito Family Residence was originally constructed in 1865, and following multiple additions and renovations reached its current form in 1930. While it is based on a traditional Japanese house, one section of the second floor is in the Western style, an architectural rarity.
The ‘Tango Chirimen Authentic Kimono Experience’ which allows participants to wear a Tango chirimen kimono is also available starting from JPY 14,000, tax included. On this plan, in addition to enjoying the ‘Hare-no-hi’ set meal prepared with local ingredients including Tango ‘bara sushi’, a traditional Tango region dish, participants can experience walking down Chirimen Kaido Street while wearing a kimono.

Miyazu Amanohashidate Seafood Deli Totomart – Amanohashidate Viewland – Kaisen Bridge

This course ends near Amanohashidate. Miyazu Amanohashidate Seafood Deli Totomart is a popular spot where visitors can have fresh caught Miyazu seafood prepared in the method of their choosing. The staff will help by providing their recommended ingredients and preparation method, and orders can be adjusted depending on the number of people and preferences. This spot also offers a wide range of souvenirs.

Head north on Prefectural Route 2 to Amanohashidate. First, enjoy a scenic view overlooking Amanohashidate from Amanohashidate Viewland, an observatory and amusement park facility located on the summit of Mt. Monju at 130 meters in elevation. Observing Amanohashidate from the south reveals its dynamic, curving shape. This view is called ‘Bi-ryu-kan’ (Flying-dragon-view) as from this angle Amanohashidate looks like a dragon taking flight into the sky.
Also, when Amanohashidate is viewed from the northern side at Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park, the view is referred to as ‘Sho-ryu-kan’ (Climbing-dragon-view) as it appears to be climbing more gradually into the sky. To see both of these views you will need to cross Amanohashidate, which can be done on foot or by rental bicycle, or you can also take a sightseeing boat.

When crossing from the south side, near the foot of Amanohashidate there is an unusual bridge called Kaisen Bridge. To allow sightseeing boats and other vessels to pass, a section of this bridge is designed to rotate 90 degrees. There are also cafes and souvenir shops in this area, so we recommend enjoying a relaxing walk through the area while taking in views of the ocean, pine forests, and Kaisen Bridge.