tsuwano, shimane

Tsuwano (津和野町; Tsuwano-cho) is a town located in Kanoashi District, Shimane prefecture, Japan. As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,711 and a density of 40.84 persons per km². The total area is 139.85 km². Tsuwano-cho (the -cho means 'town') is surrounded by hills in a rather remote location. Though it is geographically closer to Yamaguchi city which is the prefectural capital of Yamaguchi prefecture, it is part of Shimane prefecture, which has a long thin shape. It takes 3-4 hours to get to Matsue, the capital of Shimane prefecture, by train. Many tourists visit the town of Hagi on the Japan Sea coast and Yamaguchi city together with Tsuwano as they are all close to each other. The Catholic church in Tsuwano is probably an offshoot of the cathedral in Yamaguchi which is dedicated to the memory of Saint Francis Xavier who was a missionary in Japan 1549-50.

Famous people

The novelist Mori Ogai was born in Tsuwano, into a family of doctors. His birthhouse is preserved in the town. Mori travelled to Germany and studied medicine there. As a result Tsuwano is twinned with Berlin's central ward by an agreement signed on August 25, 1995.

SL Yamaguchi-go

A popular tourist destination, Tsuwano is served by the steam locomotive SL Yamaguchi-go which runs once daily on weekends and on national holidays (except in the winter) from Shin Shimonoseki (formerly Ogori) station to Tsuwano and back. It only stops for about three hours in Tsuwano before returning to Shin Shimonoseki station. The 2003 movie "Spy Sorge" (director Masahiro Shinoda) about Richard Sorge includes a scene shot in the train for period effect. The train has carriages decorated in the styles of different eras: Meiji, Taisho, Showa and European. There is also an observation car at the back. The locomotive does not run entirely under its own steam, being helped along by a diesel engine.

<< Previous

Word Browser

Next >>

hikawa, shimane
sada, shimane
taki, shimane
koryo, shimane
taisha, shimane
hikawa district, shimane
yunotsu, shimane
nima, shimane
bank negara malaysia
nima district, shimane
kawamoto, shimane

ochi, shimane
daiwa, shimane
hasumi, shimane
mizuho, shimane
iwami, shimane
sakurae, shimane
ochi district, shimane
kanagi, shimane
asahi, shimane
yasaka, shimane
misumi, shimane

naka district, shimane
mito, shimane
hikimi, shimane
mino district, shimane
nichihara, shimane
kakinoki, shimane
muikaichi, shimane
kanoashi district, shimane
saigo, shimane
battle of mons lactarius
fuse, shimane

goka, shimane
tsuma, shimane
ama, shimane
nishinoshima, shimane
chibu, shimane
oki district, shimane
chihuahua pine
predatory pricing
victory
guru hargobind
russell maclellan