"SAKAI" the attractive city with a variety of histories and traditions from ancient to modern period.

Sakai is the second largest city in terms of population and area in Osaka Prefecture. With its history dates from the Old Stone Age, earthenware and bronze bell-shaped vessels in the Jomon and Yayoi eras were excavated in Sakai City. The Mozu tumulus group with some 100 ancient burial mounds, including the Nintoku-ryo tomb, was built from the 4th to 5th century.

The city thrived as an international hub and a center of commerce and Namban trade in the Sengoku period. Cutlery, Incense, Shamisen, and other various products were introduced to Sakai and spread all over Japan and therefore there is a saying that 'all the things are originated in Sakai'. In fact, especially in cutlery, 90% of all knives for professional use in cooking are made in this city.

It has also produced many prominent figures such as Sen-no-Rikyu who perfected the art of the tea ceremony and Yosano Akiko who is known as a poet of passion. The city is deeply linked with Japanese history and culture.
At present, Sakai City aims together with Habikino and Fujiidera City in Osaka Prefecture for the designation of both Mozu and Furuichi tumulus as a World Heritage Site.

Sightseeing tour in Sakai (1)
Why don't you enjoy discovering a number of romantic stories about historical character and a craftsmanship inherited through the history?

'(Northern) Old urban area' is the most popular sightseeing course that a travel agency also highly recommends. Let's start a tour from the Sakai City Hall with its 21st-floor observation deck offering 360-degree view of the city. The course has many places to visit like Hochigai Shrine which is known that it removes any misfortune related to an unlucky direction, the old rows of houses such as Old Gunsmith's House around Kitahatago-cho, the long-established stores of traditional handcrafts in Sakai such as incense, cutlery and Japanese sweets, and 'Machiya History Museum the Yamaguchi Residence' where its structure evokes an image of lifestyle in Machiya (A kind of Japanese old style residence).

 

Myokokuji Temple is also well-known temple for its great cycad tree which is over 1100 years old, and its mysterious legend. It is said that Oda Nobunaga had transplanted this cycad tree to Azuchi Castle, however he had it cut down. Bleeding from the cut and fainting in agony the cycad looked so much like a great snake. Oda Nobunaga became afraid of the tree and sent it back to Myokokuji Temple. Sakai Hamono Museum provides you with an experience to see an art of cutlery craftsman.

Sightseeing tour in Sakai (2)
Why don't you sit back and enjoy a trip by a streetcar called 'Chin-chin Densha' which is a symbol of the city?

'(Southern) Old urban area' is another popular sightseeing course. There are different places to visit, including the site of Yosano Akiko's birthplace with a monument put up with her poet on, the site of Sen-no-Rikyu's residence with a well of a camellia, and the Nanshuji Temple which is known that Sen-no-Rikyu had studied at and for the legend of Tokugawa Ieyasu. You can also travel to the Nintoku-ryo tumulus which is Japan's largest keyhole-shaped mound as well as one of the big three tombs in the world, Sakai City Museum in Daisen Park where the history and culture of Sakai are all introduced, Sakai City Tea House where you can enjoy Japanese green tea, the beautiful Japanese Garden of Tsukiyama Rinsen Kaiyushiki, and Bicycle Museum Cycle Center which is the only place in Japan.

 

The Chin-chin Densha (streetcar) runs along the Old Kishu Kaido and every station has a lot of historic highlights of Sakai.

Access to Sakai from Kobe