Discover Yosa District

When looking for a hotel in Yosa District, it is worth exploring the cultural and natural highlights of the associated municipality of Yosano. In Kaya, textile history and historic buildings shape the townscape; elsewhere, archaeological sites, parks, and attractions around Mount Ōeyama take center stage. You can plan your trip around the themes that interest you most.

Textile history and historic buildings in Kaya

Chirimen Kaido is the nickname for the district of traditional buildings in Kaya. Chirimen Kaido comprises a preserved weaving town with houses, storehouses, crepe factories, and workers’ lodgings. The buildings date from the Edo period to the early Shōwa period and offer a sense of the different features of a weaving town.

The Tango Chirimen Historical Museum was established on the grounds of a long-established textile company. Exhibits include documents and photographs about Tango Chirimen, as well as machinery, including a rare Hachō twisting machine. Alongside the historic buildings, the museum focuses on the production of the textile.

Another perspective on the history of architecture can be found at the former Bito Residence: this large estate dates from the late Edo period and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It includes a specially designed Western-style building that combines Japanese and Western elements.

Former public buildings and transport facilities are also part of Kaya’s history. The former station building was constructed in 1926, when the private Kaya Railway opened, and has been restored and preserved as a municipal cultural property. The former Kaya Town Hall was built in 1929, after the 1927 Tango earthquake, and is at the northern end of Chirimen Kaido. A bus runs from Yosano Station to the Chirimen Kaido stop; from there, the former town hall is about a one-minute walk away. Check the timetable before travelling, as local service times may change.

Kofun and archaeological sites

Kofun Park reconstructs and maintains the two nationally designated historic sites, Ebisu-yama Kofun and Tsukuriyama Kofun. The Haniwa Museum complements this archaeological focus with haniwa clay figures and ornaments from the Kofun period found at these two kofun. Together, the park and museum offer different perspectives on the same sites: reconstructed burial mounds in the park and preserved objects in the museum.

Parks, views, and mountain scenery

At Ōuchi-Tōge Ichijikan Park, cottages and tents offer direct panoramic views of Amanohashidate. The park has five cottages. The campsite has showers, toilets, and a building with cooking facilities; check current operating information before your trip.

A different view awaits at Aso Seaside Park, where wide expanses of natural grass frame views of the Aso Sea. Ungan Park, meanwhile, extends across the entire mountain and is known for its azaleas. It is on the grounds of a temple that flourished particularly during the Kamakura period. At the summit stands the largest hōkyōintō stone pagoda in the Tango region.

Kaye Sohmine Park is located at an elevation of about 500 meters at the entrance to legendary Mount Ōeyama. It has bungalows, a car camping area, and a campsite; it operates seasonally. Check current availability before your trip. Nodagawa Forest Park has walking trails, a viewpoint, a covered gathering space, and a 16-hole ground golf course. The children’s area includes a 45-meter roller slide.

Tours, events, and local cuisine

Trekking tours are offered in Yosano on legendary Mount Ōeyama. Another seasonal highlight is the spring Mikawa-uchi Hikiyama Matsuri festival, featuring children’s kabuki, Sasabayashi and kagura performances, and processions with portable shrines and festival floats. The festival is an intangible cultural property of Kyoto Prefecture; dates vary from year to year, so check the schedule for your trip.

ATARIYA Tango Innovation Hub is a renovated former restaurant that serves as an exchange and innovation center for the Tango region. Its spaces are used for coworking, training, and events; advance contact is required to use them. The center also plans and organizes tours of businesses and visitor attractions in the Tango region. Local food highlights in Yosano include Kyō no Mamekko-mai, the city’s branded rice, and dishes featuring plenty of seasonal vegetables.

Discover more destinations: Yosano

For the broader travel guide: Kyoto Prefecture.