Kasashima Town Residences

Kasashima Town, located on the northeastern coast of Honjima Island, offers a rare and immersive glimpse into daily life during Japan’s Edo Period (1603–1868). This remarkably well-preserved port town once thrived as a center of coastal trade and shipbuilding, serving as a key maritime hub in the Seto Inland Sea. Visitors can stroll along narrow, stone-paved streets lined with over twenty traditional wooden townhouses (machiya), each featuring distinctive Edo-era architectural elements such as tiled roofs, wooden lattices, and deep eaves. Three of these homes are open to the public, where historical household items and furnishings are on display, offering a tangible sense of how families lived and worked in past centuries. With its peaceful ambiance and historical charm, Kasashima Town provides an authentic window into Japan’s pre-modern past.

To further explore the area’s rich heritage, a short uphill walk leads to the ruins of Kasashima Castle, once a prominent coastal stronghold overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Although the castle itself no longer stands, a stone monument now marks the site, and the hilltop offers sweeping views of the surrounding forest and coastline—making it an ideal spot for reflection and photography. Together, the historic streets and scenic viewpoint make Kasashima Town a compelling destination for anyone interested in traditional Japanese architecture, local maritime history, and the enduring legacy of the Edo period.