Sanhei

**Sanhei** [山澤; さんへい / Sunpaku: うらくだ] is the capital city of Uchi Prefecture, located in the Sanhei Plain. As of 2022, it has a population of around 460,000, making it the most populous city in the prefecture by far.

Sanhei is built on the Sanhei Plain, a large stretch of flat, arable and well-drained land located in the foothills of the Akata Mountains. Due to this fortunate position, the city has been able to grow rapidly throughout the centuries, evolving from a small mining and farming town to the sprawling urban expanse that it is today. For over two hundred years Sanhei has been the cultural capital of the Honnan region, alongside its 'sister city' Nasamazu in Zōhai Prefecture. Urakuda Palace, historical home of the Summui royals, is located in Sanhei and is a popular site for tourists.

## History

The moniker *Sanhei* comes from the direct translation of the city's original Sunpaku name *Urakuda* meaning 'mountain foothills'. However, the area was known by a number of other names too, mostly relating to its status as the Royal Capital. Unlike Nasamazu, which was popular with traders and merchants as a centre of commerce, Sanhei was associated with high culture, nobility, refinement and the arts due to the fact that much of its population was originally made up of the educated upper classes and courtiers.

Sanhei received a large number of Chinese visitors throughout its history, which contributed heavily to the distinctive Chinese influence in its architecture and infrastructure compared to other parts of Daizō and mainland Kanton. According to historical records, foreign ambassadors frequently visited and were spotted at the royal court of the Palace. This also contributed to Sanhei's grand reputation.

## Geography

Sanhei is located in a low, flat valley region known as the Sanhei Plain, surrounded on its east and southern sides by the Akata and Ōyuki Mountains. Several large rivers and lakes overlap its borders, including the Jiwa River, the Onzake River, Lake Tao and the southern shores of Lake Kusazake.

## Economy

Sanhei is an economic centre of Uchi Prefecture dominated by tourism, retail and service industries. The city developed quickly as an industrial center after the 1950s, leading to a population spurt. Sanhei is also noted for its agricultural and brewing industries. Sanheiki Airport is the largest airport in the Honnan region, its annual traffic being around 1.2 million in 2020.

## Local attractions

Sanhei has many local attractions, both historical and contemporary, which are of artistic and cultural importance; this has earned it the title of 'Artists' City' (*kagi no minzen*). Urakuda Palace (also known as Sanhei Palace), the oldest and greatest piece of surviving traditional Summui architecture, is preserved in the northern ward of the city for sightseeing and tours.

The Great Temple of Sanhei (also known as Chiraku Temple) is a 15th-century Sudaro temple commissioned by King Chūo, and is the largest and most lavish surviving temple of its time. It was built as a site of worship for the royal family and nobles of the inner circle. Nowadays it is open to tourists, and is still used during New Year celebrations and festivals. Sanhei Central Park, located near to the temple, is the largest green space in the city and is often crowded during the springtime for *hinamachi*. Other attractions include:

* Sanhei City Museum
* Ruins of Urauma Castle
* Furukarai Temple
* Anbara Park
* Uchi Prefectural Museum & Art Gallery
* Sanhei Ice Arena (used for ice hockey, a popular sport of the city)