NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel

Sawara prospered through waterway transportation and still retains traces of the Edo period. Recognized for its historic landscape, the area along the Ono River became the first district in the Kanto region to be designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1996.

NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel treats the entire town of Sawara as one hotel, offering accommodations in three historic buildings scattered throughout the town, including merchant houses more than 100 years old, that have been renovated with modern comforts. The rooms blend contemporary features into surroundings that seem to transport guests back to the Edo period, creating comfortable, relaxing spaces.

The Sake Brewery Restaurant, housed in a renovated sake brewery dating back to the Edo period, uses high-quality local produce, seafood, and meat. Its fermentation-inspired French cuisine incorporates ingredients such as soy sauce, miso, and koji and is designed to pair well with sake delivered directly from local breweries.

A walk through Sawara offers the chance to experience the preserved atmosphere of Little Edo. Exclusive programs are also available for hotel guests. These include a tour of Tokun Sake Brewery, a historic Sawara brewery founded in 1825, and formal worship inside Katori Jingu Shrine. Until the Edo period, Katori Jingu was one of only three shrines in Japan to hold the title of Jingu, alongside Ise Jingu and Kashima Jingu. Guests can also tour the shrine grounds and treasure museum with a Shinto priest, learning about its approximately 2,600-year history through experiences that go beyond an ordinary shrine visit.