Historical heritage remaining in Tsuruoka, a port of call for Kitamae ships [Yamagata Prefecture]

From the middle of the Edo period to the 1890s, Kitamae-bune ships .

The largest port in the Tohoku region was Sakata (Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture), but the ships also called at the port of Tsuruoka, where the Shonai domain's castle was located, and transported rice and other produce from the Shonai Plain, as well as silk products (a Japanese Heritage site called "Silk Associated with Samurai"), to Osaka

The busiest of these Kamo (Kamo, Tsuruoka City) .

During the Taisho era, the railway was opened, and the Kitamae ships ceased to function, and the port of Kamo, which had no connection to the railway, naturally became deserted

Today, Kamo is a fishing port known for its the Kamo Aquarium designated as part of the Shonai Scenic Corridor,

Stone walls built in the Meiji era remain on the quays of Kamo Port, and the flag mark of Kitamae ships is painted on an old storehouse in the town

the Akino Residence, said to be the second largest landowner after the Honma family of Sakata (Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture) , and the Ishinazaka Family Residence and Storehouse (a nationally registered tangible cultural property), owners of Kitamae ships, which still retain the atmosphere of the time when the area was bustling with Kitamae ships.

Kamo District, Tsuruoka City <Information>

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

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Ryuoson Zenpoji Temple, where the owners of the Kitamae ships worshipped

Ryuo Sonzenpoji Temple is well known among those involved in the marine industry as a temple dedicated to the dragon god, the god of the sea.

This ancient temple is said to have been founded by the monk Myotatsu Shonin in 951, and is one of the three major prayer centers of the Soto sect, along with Toyokawa Inari (Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture) and Saijoji Temple (Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

Behind the temple grounds, on the banks of Kaibamiike Pond, stands the "Ryujindo" hall, where the dragon god is enshrined

The Gohyaku Rakan Hall was built with donations from merchants who made their fortunes through Kitamaebune shipping. The 531 Rakan statues enshrined there were also made with donations.

Six buildings, including the Gohyaku Rakan Hall, main gate, and five-story pagoda, are registered as tangible cultural properties of Japan

Ryuoson Zenpoji Temple＜Information＞

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

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The Chido Museum houses a model of a Kitamae ship donated by the ship's owner, as well as a ship's chest of drawers

The Chido Museum in Tsuruoka City houses and displays ship models, ship votive plaques, four-gramp anchors, departure passes, ship registration cards, ship chests, and other items donated by Kitamae-bune shipowners.

The Chido Museum houses relocated and exhibited valuable historical heritage, including the gardens of the Sakai family, lords of the Shonai domain who focused on trade with Kitamaebune ships, the former Shonai domain lord's obedience hall, the former silkworm farmhouse in Tamugimata, the former Nishitagawa County Office and the former Tsuruoka Police Station, which were built during the Meiji period when Tsuruoka was prosperous, and important tangible folk cultural properties of the Shonai region

Chido Museum＜Information＞

• Name: Chido Museum
• Address: 10-18 Ienakashinmachi, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-22-1199 (Chido Museum)
• Opening hours:
• March to November: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
• December to February: 9:00 to 16:30 (entry until 16:00)
• Closed: December 28th to January 4th, Wednesdays (December to February)
• Admission fee: Adults 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 public park called "Tsurugaoka Castle Ruins Tsuruoka Park."

Tsurugaoka Castle Ruins Tsurugaoka Park was developed as a park on the site of Tsurugaoka Castle, which was the residence of the Sakai clan, lords of the Shonai domain. Tsurugaoka Castle was demolished in the Meiji era, but Shonai Shrine was built on the site. The tiles on the main hall of Shonai Shrine are from Tsurugaoka Castle.

Within Tsuruoka Park, many remains from the castle era remain, including moats, stone walls, and cedar trees that are hundreds of years old. The Taihokan was built in 1915 (Taisho 4) to commemorate the enthronement of Emperor Taisho, and was used as the city library after World War II.

Currently, the museum exhibits materials related to great people born in Tsuruoka, such as the Meiji era literary figure Takayama Chogyu (1871-1902)

Tsuruoka Park <Information>

• Name: Tsurugaoka Castle Ruins Tsuruoka Park
• Address: 4-7 Babacho, Tsuruoka City
• Phone number: 0235-25-7678 (Tsuruoka Tourism Navigator)
• Opening hours: 24 hours
• Price: Free
• Name: Taihokan
• Location: Tsuruoka Park
• Phone number: 0235-24-3266
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30
• Closed: Wednesdays (or the following weekday if a public holiday falls on a Wednesday), New Year's holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
• Admission fee: Free
• URL: Tsuruoka Park Treasure House

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The former Shonai feudal lord's inn, dismantled and transported from Edo by Kitamae ship

"Goinden" (Retirement Palace of the Former Lord of the Shonai Domain) was the retirement residence of Sakai Tadaaki (1812-1876), the 11th lord of the Shonai domain. It was originally a secondary residence in Edo, transported by Kitamaebune ship and relocated to Tsuruoka. Records show that it was built using much of the lumber from within the Shonai domain. It has now been relocated to the Chido Museum and is on permanent display.

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The former Nishitagawa County Office, a Meiji-era government office that shows the prosperity of Tsuruoka

The "Former Nishitagawa County Office" is the former Nishitagawa County office, built in 1881 (Meiji 14). The former Nishitagawa County was part of the Shonai Domain during the Edo period, and was an area facing the Sea of ​​Japan that included 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 also incorporates elements of Japanese architecture, making it a pseudo-Western style building. It has now been relocated to the Chido Museum, where archaeological materials excavated from Shonai, as well as materials from the Boshin War at the end of the Edo period through to the Meiji Restoration period, are on display. The "Former Nishitagawa County Office" is a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan

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The former Tsuruoka Police Station, which policed ​​the crowded city of Tsuruoka

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

Tsuruoka City has been certified as a Japan Heritage site, "Another world woven by the dreams of men who crossed rough seas - Kitamaebune port and shipowners' village."。

Tsuruoka Tourism <Information>

• URL: Tsuruoka Tourism Navi

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