Townapedia
A view of Sawara-Honmachi
A view of Sawara-Honmachi · Tamaki, Public domain
Sawara-Mitsubishikan 20210209
Sawara-Mitsubishikan 20210209 · アリオト, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sawara-Mitsubishikan counter
Sawara-Mitsubishikan counter · アリオト, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sawara-Mitsubishikan stairs 20230507
Sawara-Mitsubishikan stairs 20230507 · アリオト, CC BY-SA 4.0
Street View of Sawara, Katori 3
Street View of Sawara, Katori 3 · そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0
Memorial Museum of Ino Tadataka in Sawara, Katori
Memorial Museum of Ino Tadataka in Sawara, Katori · そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0

Sawara, Japan

佐原市

Sawara is a town of 47,199 people in Chiba, Japan, founded in March 15, 1951.

Loading the weather...
Population47,199 GeoNames
Local name佐原市
RegionChiba
Elevation8 m 26 ft
FoundedMarch 15, 1951
Time zoneAsia/Tokyo
Land area119.9 km²
Nearest airportNarita International Airport (NRT) 16 km

Why visit Sawara

Townapedia lists 85 museums and landmarks, 42 parks and trails, 147 places to eat, 17 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include 高はし梨園 売店, Suigo Sawara Float Hall, Ino Tadataka Museum and Suigō Sawara Ayame Park.

About Sawara

Sawara (佐原市, Sawara-shi) was a city located in Katori District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

From the Wikipedia article Sawara, Chiba (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do5

高はし梨園 売店

Farm and orchard · 6.8 km

3, 香取市

Open in Google Maps · +81-478-75-3828

Itako Iris Garden

Scenic view · 7.2 km

Open in Google Maps

US Cinema

Cinema and theater · 4.2 km

Open in Google Maps

佐原PA展望台

Scenic view · 5.2 km

Open in Google Maps

鹿苑

Scenic view · 2.5 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks85

Suigo Sawara Float Hall

Museum · 0.7 km

Mo off; Tu-Su 09:00-16:30

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +81 478-52-4104

Ino Tadataka Museum

Museum · 0.6 km

1, 香取市

Tu-Su 09:00-16:30

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · 0478-54-1118

ギャラリー いなえ

Museum · 0.7 km

Mo-Tu 10:30-17:00; We off; Th-Su 10:30-17:00

Open in Google Maps · 81-478-54-7575

千葉県立中央博物館大利根分館

Museum · 5.6 km

Open in Google Maps

Otsukayama Tumulus

Monument and historic site · 7.4 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

伊能忠敬像

Monument and historic site · 1.3 km

Open in Google Maps

Canal

Monument and historic site · 0.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Jizo

Monument and historic site · 8.3 km

Open in Google Maps

Junhaito Shrine

Monument and historic site · 3.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Keuchi Tumulus

Monument and historic site · 3.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Matami Tumulus

Monument and historic site · 2.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Memorial monument of Emperor and Empress's visit

Monument and historic site · 7.5 km

Open in Google Maps

73 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds42

Suigō Sawara Ayame Park

Park · 5.6 km

2, 香取市

Mo off; Tu-Su 09:00-16:30; Jun Tu-Su 08:00-18:00; Jul Tu-Su 08:00-16:30

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +81 478-56-0411

Taiei Country Club

Golf course · 8.4 km

Mo-Sa 07:30-17:30

Open in Google Maps · 0476-73-5522

Katori Country Club

Golf course · 4.7 km

1177, 香取市

Open in Google Maps · 0478-82-6111

Omigawa Tokyu Golf Club

Golf course · 6.8 km

1, 香取市

Open in Google Maps · 0478-83-0109

Sawara Country Club

Golf course · 4.9 km

89, 香取市

Open in Google Maps

栗山川ふれあいの里公園

Park · 8.1 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Yokotone-komon fureai Park

Park · 3.2 km

Open in Google Maps

鳳翔瑞穂公園

Playground · 6.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Children's Playground

Playground · 1.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Gongenyama Park

Park · 8.7 km

Open in Google Maps

30 more on the map.

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes147

Italian Garage

Restaurant · Pizza、pasta、肉、魚料理、前菜、dolce,etc · 7.4 km

16, 潮来市

11:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-24:00

Open in Google Maps

Casa Alberata

Restaurant · Italian

We-Su 11:30-15:00,18:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · 0478-79-9422

Rotisserie KITTEI

Restaurant · 1.0 km

8, 香取市

Th-Tu 11:00-17:00, 17:30-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +81-478-55-0800

千与福

Restaurant · 0.7 km

1, 香取市

Mo-Su 11:30-14:00, 18:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +81-478-52-1611

珈琲玉澤

Cafe · 0.6 km

3401, 香取市

Open in Google Maps · 0478-52-3756

Araiya

Restaurant · Chicken, Japanese, Friture · 7.9 km

24/7

Open in Google Maps

遅歩庵 いのう

Cafe · 0.6 km

Th-Tu 10:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps · 0478-54-2335

Bandotaro

Restaurant · 8.1 km

Open in Google Maps

Eldorado

Bar and pub · 7.4 km

19:00

Open in Google Maps

Syabuyo

Restaurant · Buffet · 1.4 km

元ジョナサン

Open in Google Maps

伊藤忠次郎商店

Cafe

3, 香取市

Open in Google Maps · 0478-55-8910

坂蔵

Cafe · 0.7 km

Su; Th-Sa; Tu[1]; Tu[3]

Open in Google Maps

135 more on the map.

History

Sawara has been settled since prehistoric times, and has numerous remains of Jōmon period shell middens and Kofun period burial mounds. By the Nara period, it had developed as a port, and as a monzenmachi associated with Katori Shrine, and in the Heian period was a regional commerce center for numerous shōen in the area. During the Edo period, it was partly under the control of the Omigawa Domain, a feudal domain of the Tokugawa shogunate. Modern Sawara Town was created in 1889. Sawara-city established on March 15, 1951 through merger with neighboring town of Katori and the villages of Kasai and Higashi-Oto. It expanded further on February 11, 1955 through annexation of the neighboring villages of Mizuho, Shinshima, Tsunomiya and Okura.

In March 1996, Sawara established sister city relations with Nanjing in China.

In February 2006 (the last data available before its merger into Katori), the city had an estimated population of 47,244 and a population density of 394 persons per km2. Its total area was 119.88 km2.

On March 27, 2006, Sawara, along with the towns of Kurimoyo, Omigawa and Yamada (all from Katori District), was merged to create the city of Katori, and thus no longer exists as an independent municipality.

From the History section of Sawara, Chiba on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay17

Churches and places of worship139

Advertisement

Shopping34

Gas and EV charging28

Schools, colleges and libraries45

Advertisement

Healthcare23

Map of Sawara

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Narita International Airport (NRT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 km away.

  • Tako 17 km south, about 17 min by car
  • Narita 20 km southwest, about 20 min by car
  • Yōkaichiba 21 km south, about 21 min by car
  • Yokoshiba 26 km south, about 26 min by car
  • Shisui 28 km southwest, about 28 min by car
  • Sakura 30 km southwest, about 30 min by car
  • Inzai 31 km west, about 31 min by car
  • Yachimata 31 km southwest, about 31 min by car
  • Tsuchiura 35 km northwest, about 35 min by car
  • Yachiyo 38 km southwest, about 38 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.