Sakura - Region
Geography
The region is predominantly mountainous wilderness with large fertile valleys. Sakura Town itself is founded at the base of a massive volcano with the Yokai Forest on one side. Further up the mountains are more forests and various lakes fed by winter snow melts. The Town itself is based along the shore of one of the largest rivers in the region and one of the few navigable by any but the smallest boats.
Climate
The climate tends to have mild to warm summers with winters that are cool but marked with a lot of snow fall.
In spring the accumulated snowfall melts often leading to flooding in the lower valleys but also leads to an abundance of natural growth.
Natural Resources
The region is abundant with natural resources that have yet to be exploited. There is one primary active volcano which the locals worship as Kazan No Ryu and it has been active every few years resulting in a lot of very mineral rich soil.
In addition due to the plentiful rain/snow fall and rich soil the region is covered in trees that haven't been subject to any significant forestry industry yet.
The mountains are also suspected to hold lots of valuable ore.
All of that doesn't add up to much economic value however as the region is quite remote and accessing most of the natural resources would be quite a challenge. The locals at least won't find themselves lacking for anything though.
History
The region has been dotted by various small hamlets and villages but the largest of them has been Sakura Village and with recent events it has become even more of the regional hub. It's unclear how the village came to be where it is considering how different the culture is from everything else around it. Local legend suggest it has something to do with the Yokai Forest forest and that if you get lost within, it can transport you across space and time. One theory that is becoming increasingly common is that the village was once part of a larger realm but somehow the entire village was transported to it's current location by some quirk of the Yokai Forest. Many of the recent Imperial citizens that have settled in the Village believe that the Village must have originally been a part of the Celestial Empire. The native Sakuran's are more likely to believe Kazan No Ryu brought them there to save them from some great calamity.
Regardless of the truth, the native Sakuran's just appeared one day on the edges of the Kingdom of Durakiss and King Sandro granted them permission to settle the land. Later in return for years of faithful and heroic service to the Crown, King Sandro granted the region to Reri Murakami along with her and the region's independence from his Kingdom. Thereby establishing Sakura as it's own independent region.
Reri Murakami would go on to establish the Black Lotus Dojo and it has been a central part of Sakura ever since. Its renown for training some of the most talented warriors around has brought a steady stream of students over the years and put an otherwise insignificant village on the map.
The Imperial invasion of Sakura Village has only accelerated the growth of the tiny village into the busy town it is today. The same growth has also resulted in significant population growth for the overall region and the number of small hamlets and villages has increased but none have gained any notable prominence yet.
Tourism
Historically the region has not been very popular for tourism. There aren't any major population centers or destinations within the region and it isn't on the way to anywhere in particular. Travelers mostly included adventurers and a few merchants visiting the handful of villages and hamlets in the area.
Recently however with the sudden influx of people and wealth that is starting to change. Sakura Town itself is becoming a destination that is drawing a large number of visitors.
Type
Region
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owning Organization
Contested By
Comments