Little Kyoto
Takehara, often called the “Little Kyoto of Aki,” is a beautifully preserved Edo-period merchant town known for its salt and sake heritage. The Takehara Townscape Conservation Area features historic wooden buildings, narrow lanes, and traditional latticework. Visitors can try bamboo weaving at the Machinami Takekobo Bamboo Craft Workshop, creating items like baskets and pinwheels. Saihoji Temple's Fumeikaku Hall offers panoramic views from its hillside platform, while nearby Shōren-ji Temple showcases 18th-century Jōdo Shinshū architecture. The Isonomiya Hachiman Shrine, dating back to 1260, is revered as the guardian deity of bountiful harvests and household safety.
