Sunflowers are in full swing in Sayo, Hyogo

Sayo Town is located in the West Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture, and it used to be a post-station town. To the west of Sayo is Okayama Prefecture. Sayo is approximately 40km from Himeji City and 80km from Kobe City. Sayo is on the eastern end of the central Japan mountain range. The mountain range in Sayo is the West Harima range. The Chikusa River flows through the center of Sayo from north to south. In the north of Sayo, first Mt. Hinakura and then Mt. Gosikiyama, Mt. Takahachi, and Mt. Dannohira all rise above 600m high. Due to a range of hills, the central portion of Sayo is made up of river valleys, with villages and farmland dispersed through out. Sayo has little flat land, so most of Sayo is made up of mountains and forests (Forests occupy 81.0% and Arable Land is just 6.8%). In summer time (July to August), the town becomes so crowded and lively with many people who come there to enjoy sunflower viewing, and most of them taste shaved ice to cool down themselves because it's too hot.

Nowadays, the southern part of Sayo Town, Tatsuno City, and Kamigori Town all share Harima Science Garden City. Amongst an abundant natural environment, there are SPring- 8 (The world's largest synchrotron radiation facility), Hyogo Prefectural University, High School, and Jr. High School. All of these schools have been collected for the purpose of furthering research. Aiming for health preservation, welfare, medical treatment and education there are also the Ion Beam Medical Center, Hyogo Prefectural Nishi-Harima School for Students with Special Needs, and the General Rehabilitation Center. This area is a point where technology industries and scientific and academic research have been centered and excelled. It is also a place that aims to be an international technological city with a comfortable living environment. To that end Sayo Town will play an important role in it's further development.