For 280 years from 1588 to the early years of the Meiji era, Obi was a prosperous castle town of Itoushi of the Obi Clan. Obi town still maintains the old castle town atmosphere, with many houses of old samurai lords lining the ancient streets. It feels like you have walked through time, back to the era of the samurai.

The town area was designated as an Important Preservation District of Historical Buildings by the Japanese government in 1977.