Katori City in Chiba Prefecture is a city blessed with abundant nature nurtured by the Tone River, abundant agricultural and livestock products, and numerous historical resources, including Katori Shrine, the Ichinomiya of Shimousa Province and one of the Three Grand Shrines since ancient times, as well as national treasures and important cultural properties.
The "Sawara Townscape" that remains along the Onogawa River in the city was once a river port commercial city known as "the best in the lower reaches of the Tone River," and its historical and cultural value was recognized, with the area being designated as the first "Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings" in the Kanto region in 8. The rich waterfront environment, charming merchant houses that convey vestiges of the Edo period, and Edo-style culture attract many passersby and are still integrated into the daily lives of locals, creating a rare townscape where visitor "tourism" and local "life" are integrated.
In 28, the townscape of Sawara was designated a "Japan Heritage" and the "Sawara Float Festival", which has been held in the townscape for over 300 years, was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. These developments have led to a growing appreciation for the region's excellent history and culture, as well as a growing momentum for revitalizing the region through tourism promotion that makes use of the region's blessed natural environment.