local character; nature of a place
Refers to the distinctive atmosphere, customs, or characteristics of a particular area or region.
Because of the local character, this area is very quiet at night.
We are planning a tourism program that makes use of the local character.
Since this area draws a lot of tourists, signs with English writing stand out here.
地方色 highlights the distinctive local flavor or color that sets a region apart, whereas 土地柄 more broadly describes the general character or mood typical of an area.
人柄 describes a person's personal character, while 土地柄 describes the character of a place—learners can confuse them because both use 柄 to mean 'nature' or 'character'.
Compound of 土地 (tochi, 'land') and 柄 (gara, 'pattern' or 'character'). The reading とちがら is a standard rendaku form.
The best way to understand the local character of this town is to take part in its festival.