This is the 9365th most frequent Japanese word.
砂郷
"砂郷" translates to "sand village" or "village of sand."
Here, '砂郷' is used as a proper noun referring to a specific location.
彼が旅した場所は砂郷でした。
The place he traveled to was Sunakyō.
Here, '砂郷' refers to a fictional or actual town in a desert area, describing its geographical setting.
砂郷は砂漠の中にある小さな町です。
Sunakyō is a small town in the desert.
In this sentence, '砂郷' is connected to its cultural aspects, emphasizing traditional practices.