Each individual home that makes up NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel was an old Edo misegura or merchant house, filled with details and history now known only to its original occupants. Even so, guests can still find a comforting and authentic experience as each home has retained much of its original structure and architecture, especially when pertaining to the timbers and supports that have held it together for centuries. Renovations and maintenance have been done on these buildings, ensuring they'll continue standing for decades to come.

NIPPONIA's efforts in restoring these cultural icons have not only revitalized the community but also encouraged visitors from all over to partake in, contribute to, and share the culture of Sawara. So during your visit, be sure to also grab a souvenir or two from the local shops if you can.

Design and Architecture

Misegura are designed not just to serve as residences for merchants but also as their storefronts. In the case of the properties renovated by NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel, they made use of the existing spaces and transformed them with matching furniture and fixtures. This creates a balance between aesthetics and functionality, providing a minimalist and uncluttered ambiance that's also pleasing to see.

As each of NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel's properties in town are different, it lends a uniqueness that defines them from the rest. One guesthouse might feel more like a maisonette with carpeting and modern standing furniture, while the next is of a traditional Japanese style with tatami floors. While you're planning your trip, be sure to take a good look at the aesthetics that best suit your tastes so you can fully appreciate these beautiful historic stays.

Restaurant Le Un

NIPPONIA's brand restaurants Le Un are the vehicles through which Grand Chef Shu Ishii shares the flavors and beauty of French gourmet cuisine with his home nation. The restaurant uses traditional Japanese ingredients and condiments, including local miso and koji, then prepared using French culinary techniques that Chef Ishii mastered in Europe and has proliferated through the NIPPONIA brand. The results are high-quality menu items that combine the best aspects of Edo Period Japan and contemporary France.

Opening Hours: 11:30 am - 3 pm (Lunch, last orders 2 pm); 5:30 pm - 10 pm (Dinner, last orders 8 pm)

VMG Cafe

Situated in the heart of Sawara's old town neighborhood, VMG Cafe serves delicious desserts and teas which can be enjoyed alongside the town's beautiful river views. The cafe's historic ambiance provides a calm and homey atmosphere that makes it the perfect rest spot to wind down while or after exploring the town.

Opening Hours: 11: am - 4 pm (Monday, Wednesday - Friday); 11 am - 4:30 pm (Weekends and National Holidays); Closed Tuesday

Cultural Experiences

Staying at NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel not only makes the historic town's heritage attractions easily accessible, guests can even integrate immersive activities during their stay while living like a local. NIPPONIA itself hosts tours of its Sawara properties, complete with guided explanations about each establishment. If you're planning to explore the town, you can travel the waterways of the Ono River on a sightseeing boat, giving you the chance to take pictures while saving yourself some tiredness from all the walking. And while you're still in the planning stages for your trip, see if you can make it coincide with the Sawara Grand Festival, held every summer and autumn. It's also known as the Gion Festival, and involves a parade of giant floats moving through the neighborhood streets that run along the Ono River.

Sawara's old neighborhoods are already full of fun and excitement, but there are also plenty of interesting things to see and do outside of it. Katori Jingu, one of Chiba's major shrines, is just a short bicycle ride away. Fans of strawberries, on the other hand, should include a tour of Sawara River Farm on their itinerary as they offer fruit-picking activities and sell strawberry jams and ice cream.

Other Celebrations

The accommodations at NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel may not be the biggest place to serve as venues for celebrations, but it's still worth asking the management if they can provide a bit of personalized service for birthdays and anniversaries. If they do agree, they will most likely refer celebrants to their restaurants Le Un or VMG Cafe. Otherwise, they may be able to recommend a nearby establishment for the affair instead.