Chizu-juku: Visiting the Edo Period Post Town, Cedar Village, and Remnants of the Inaba Highway

Chizu Town in Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture is a historic town that flourished as a post town on the Inaba Highway (the main road connecting Tottori to the Kansai region) during the Edo period. Lying along the route of the daimyo sankin-kotai processions, it still preserves old townscapes and grand merchant houses. About 90 percent of the town is forested, and it is known as a Cedar Village where nature and history blend together.

Highlights

Chizu-juku prospered as a post town for the Tottori domain sankin-kotai and as a hub for gathering goods. Located where the Inaba Highway met the Bizen Highway, it hosted a honjin (official lodging) and saw many travelers and cargo pass through. The town retains its post-town land divisions and streetscape, and simply walking through it feels like stepping back into the Edo period.

The signature sight is the Ishitani Family Residence, a National Important Cultural Property. This grand mansion of a family that made its fortune in forestry features a main house, seven storehouses, and several gardens of differing character across a vast grounds, showcasing the refinement of modern Japanese-style architecture. Its garden is also listed as a National Registered Monument.

Enjoying the Seasons

Early summer with its fresh greenery and autumn when foliage colors the townscape and cedar forests are especially recommended. The post town under a blanket of winter snow has its own charm. In the eastern part of town, Ashizu Gorge, part of the Hyonosen-Ushiroyama-Nagi Quasi-National Park, offers a lovely contrast of clear streams and trees during the fresh-green and autumn-foliage seasons.

Access and Basic Information

The old townscape is within walking distance of Chizu Station, served by both the JR Inbi Line and the Chizu Express. It is about 40 minutes by car from central Tottori City, and accessible by limited express via the Chizu Express from the Osaka area. As the Ishitani Family Residence has set opening days and admission fees, checking official information before visiting is recommended.

Practical Travel Notes

The town walk is mostly on flat roads, but there are stone-paved sections and slopes, so comfortable walking shoes are reassuring. Cafes and inns housed in old merchant residences are dotted around, handy as rest or dining bases. A tourist information center in front of Chizu Station offers strolling maps and advice on the sights. The post-town area is compact, so you can explore it leisurely in about half a day.

A Word of Advice

Chizu is a town that has grown alongside forestry. Walking its cedar-scented streets unhurried is the way to enjoy it. Combining a visit with nearby hot springs and gorges for an overnight trip is also a fine way to savor the area.

📚 Sources

This article draws on sightseeing information published by Chizu Town and its tourism association, along with materials on town cultural properties such as the important cultural property Ishitani Residence. Signboards within the post-town streetscape were also consulted. Opening hours and admission for each facility may change, so please confirm official information before your visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow about one to two hours to stroll the old streets and merchant houses.
• Preparation: Comfortable shoes suit the cobblestones and former highway.
• Getting around: Walk the streets that retain the air of the Inaba highway post town and visit the grand merchant houses.
• Seasonal appeal: As a village of cedar where forest covers most of the town, it offers changing mountain scenery through the seasons.
• Combine with: Exhibition facilities set in historic buildings are scattered about, easy to pair with a town walk.