[Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture] Historical heritage remains in Tsuruoka, a port of call for the Kitamaebune ship

From the mid-Edo period to the 1900s, Kitamaebune (kitamaebune) carried many goods through the Sea of ​​Japan between Osaka and Tohoku/Hokkaido. The largest port in the Tohoku region was Sakata (Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture), but we also visited the port of Tsuruoka, where the Shonai clan's castle was located. They transported items such as ``Samurai-related silk'' to the Osaka area. The most popular of these was Kamo (Kamo, Tsuruoka City), which was located near the castle town and had a good natural port.

In the Taisho era, the railway opened, and the Kitamaebune's role ended, and the port of Kamo, which had no connection with the railway, naturally became lonely. Today's Kamo is a fishing port known for its jellyfish ``Kamo Aquarium''. The town still has the mansions and storehouses of wealthy merchants that were built during the heyday of the Kitamaebune era, and has been designated as a Shonai Scenic Corridor.

Stone walls built during the Meiji era remain on the quay of Kamo Port, and the Kitamaebune flag mark is painted on the old storehouses in the town. Of particular note in the Shonai region are the Akino family, said to be the second largest landowners after the Honma family in Sakata (Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture), and the residences and storehouses (nationally registered tangible cultural properties) of the Ishinazaka family, owners of Kitamaebune ships. ), and the atmosphere of the era when it was crowded with Kitamae-bune boats still remains.

INFORMATION

• Name: Tsuruoka City Kamo District
• Location: Kamo, Tsuruoka City
• Phone number: 0235-33-3023 (Tsuruoka City Kamo District Self-Government Promotion Association)
• URL: Tsuruoka City Kamo District

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``Ryuoson Zenpoji Temple'' worshiped by Kitamaebune ship owners

Ryuosonzenpoji Temple is well-known among mariners as a temple that enshrines the sea god Ryujin. This ancient temple is said to have been founded by Myotatsu Shonin in 951, and is one of the Soto sect schools along with Toyokawa Inari (Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture) and Saijoji Temple (Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture). These are the three major prayer places in Sotoshu.

At the back of the temple grounds, on the banks of Kaibamiike Pond, is the Ryujin-do Hall, where the dragon god is enshrined.

Gohyakurakando is a temple built with donations from merchants who made their fortunes on Kitamaebune ships. The 531 Arhat statues enshrined there were also donated.

Six buildings, including the Gohyaku Rakan-do Hall, the main gate, and the five-storied pagoda, are registered tangible cultural properties of the country.

INFORMATON

• Name: Ryuoson Zenpoji Temple
• Location: 100 Sekine, Shimokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-33-3303
• Free admission to worship
• URL: Zenpoji Temple

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The Chido Museum has a collection of Kitamae ship models and ship chests donated by ship owners.

The Chido Museum in Tsuruoka City has ship models, votive tablets, four-claw anchors, bills of departure, ship licenses, ship chests, and other items dedicated by the owners of the Kitamaebune ships. are held and open to the public.

The ``Chido Museum'' features the garden of the Sakai family, the lords of the Shonai domain who focused on the Kitamae-bune trade, the former lord of the Shonai domain, the former sericulture farmer's house in Tamumamata, and the Meiji era, when Tsuruoka was flourishing. Valuable historical assets such as the former Nishitagawa County Office, the former Tsuruoka Police Station building, and important tangible folk cultural properties from the Shonai region have been relocated and exhibited.

INFORMATON

• Name: Chido Museum
• Location: 10-18 Yanakashinmachi, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-22-1199 (Chido Museum)
• Opening hours:
• March-November/9:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
• December - February / 9:00 - 16:30 (Admission until 16:00)
• Closed: December 28th to January 4th, Wednesdays (December to February)
• Admission fee: General 800 yen, High school and university students 700 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen
• URL: Chido Museum

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The former castle site of the Shonai feudal lord has been turned into a park for citizens to relax. "Tsurugaoka Castle Ruins Tsuruoka Park"

"Tsurugaoka Castle Ruins Tsurugaoka Park" is the site of Tsurugaoka Castle, which was the residence of the Sakai family, the lords of the Shonai domain, and has been developed into a park. Tsurugaoka Castle was demolished in the Meiji period, but Shonai Shrine was built on the castle ruins. Tsurugaoka Castle tiles are used for the main shrine of Shonai Shrine.

Within Tsuruoka Park, there are many ruins from the castle era, such as moats, stone walls, and hundreds of years old cedar trees. Taihokan, which stands on the premises, was built in 1915 (Taisho 4) to commemorate the enthronement of Emperor Taisho, and was used as a municipal library after World War II. Currently, materials on great figures born in Tsuruoka, such as Meiji period literary scholar Takayama Chogyu (1871-1902), are on display.

INFORMATON

• Name: Tsuruoka Park
• Location: 4-7 Babamachi, Tsuruoka City
• Phone number: 0235-25-7678 (Tsuruoka sightseeing navigation)
• Opening hours: 24 hours
• Fee: Free
• Name: Taihokan
• Location: Inside Tsuruoka Park
• Phone number: 0235-24-3266
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30
• Closed: Wednesdays (the next weekday if Wednesday is a holiday) Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
• Admission fee: Free
• URL: Tsuruoka Park Daihokan

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``Former Shonai Domain Lord Goinden'' was dismantled and transported from Edo by Kitamaebune

``Former Shonai Domain Lord Goinden'' is the retirement residence of Sakai Tadaaki (1812-1876), the 11th feudal lord of the Shonai Domain.The building, which was the Edo Middle House, was taken by Kitamaebune boat. It was transported and relocated to Tsuruoka. There is also a record that it was built using a lot of timber from Shonai territory. It has now been relocated to the Chido Museum and is on permanent display.

“Former Nishitagawa County Office” is a government office from the Meiji era that shows the prosperity of Tsuruoka.

"Old Nishitagawa County Office" is the former Nishitagawa County office built in 1881 (Meiji 14). The former Nishitagawa District was the territory of the Shonai Domain during the Edo period, and was an area facing the Sea of ​​Japan, combining the west side of Tsuruoka City and the west side of Sakata City.

The ``Former Nishitagawa County Office'' is basically a Western-style building, but it is a pseudo-Western-style building that also incorporates elements of Japanese architecture. It has now been moved to the Chido Museum, where archaeological materials excavated from Shonai and materials from the Boshin War at the end of the Edo period to the Meiji civilization and enlightenment period are on display. The "Former Nishitagawa County Office" is a nationally important cultural property.

"Former Tsuruoka Police Station Building", which policed ​​the crowded Tsuruoka area

The "Old Tsuruoka Police Station Building" was built in 1884 (Meiji 17) and is a typical two-story wooden pseudo-Western-style building. It is said to be a masterpiece by Kanekichi Takahashi, an architect from Tsuruoka who also designed the Old Nishitagawa County Office and Shonai Shrine. It has now been relocated to the Chido Museum and is used as the Chido Museum office building. The "Former Tsuruoka Police Station" is a national important cultural property.

Tsuruoka City has been certified as a Japanese Heritage site, ``A different space created by the dreams of men who crossed the rough seas - Kitamaebune port of call and shipowner village.''。

INFORMATON

Tsuruoka sightseeing guide

• Contact: DEGAM Tsuruoka Tourism Bureau
• Phone number: 0235-25-7678
• URL: Tsuruoka sightseeing navigation