Nagai, a former shipping town of the Yonezawa domain that prospered through shipping on the Mogami River (Yamagata Prefecture)

Nagai City, located in the southern part of Yamagata Prefecture, was formed in 1954 (Showa 29)through the merger of the former Nagai Town, which developed during the Edo period through river transport on the Mogami River, and the five villages of Nagai, Nishine, Hirano, Isazawa, and Toyoda.

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Nagai, where Date Masamune was once the lord

The place name "Nagai" means "a place where water gathers," and three rivers, including the Mogami River, flow around the town, irrigating the land

The Nagai Basin, through which the Mogami River flows, has been inhabited by people since the Jomon period. In the Middle Ages, the Okitama district was established there, and in the Kamakura period, the Nagai clan became the lords, and Okitama was renamed Nagai no Sho (Nagai Manor).During the Nanboku-cho period, it became the territory of the Date clan, and Date Masamune also served as its lord for a time.After the Date clan was driven to Iwadeyama (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture) for defying Toyotomi Hideyoshi's orders, it became part of the Yonezawa Domain during the Edo period and remained so until the Meiji Restoration.

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During the Edo period, the Mogami River, which was full of difficult passages, was improved and a dock was established

During the Edo period, a dock on the Mogami River was established in Nagai, making it the center of Mogami shipping in the Yonezawa domain

The Mogami River flows gently up to Oishida (Oishida Town) in the middle reaches, and Oishida thrived as the largest wharf. However, to reach the upper reaches where the Yonezawa domain was located, boats had to overcome many difficult obstacles, making navigation extremely difficult

Hoping to find a way to fix the problem, Nishimura Kyuzaemon, a merchant for the Yonezawa domain, obtained permission from the shogunate and the domain, and began improving the flow of water at his own expense

Construction began in June 1863 (Genroku 6), with excavation of bedrock from Sazawa (Sagae City) to Nagai, and was completed in September of the following year. Wharves were built in Miya and Koide (Nagai City). Since then, Nagai has developed as a town based on shipping on the Mogami River

This continued even after the Meiji Restoration, and continued until the opening of the former Japan National Railways Nagai Line (now the Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line) in 1914 (Taisho 3)

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Landscapes created by connections with water are registered as cultural landscapes

With the opening of the Nagai Line, Nagai, a town based on water transportation, became a hub for goods transportation in Nishiokitama, primarily by rail, and local specialties such as agricultural produce and silk textiles began to be shipped from Nagai to all parts of the country

Many buildings and structures from that era remain in the center of Nagai, giving a glimpse of the bustle it once enjoyed. Nagai, where many tributaries of the Mogami River converge, is a place where people's lives are based on water, including boat transport, and traces of this can still be seen in the Miya and Koide areas, where there were docks

This unique landscape has been designated as an Important Cultural Landscape by the nation as "Nagai Town Landscape in the Upper Mogami River Basin."

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Nagai Bunkyo no Mori: Historic buildings used as museums and art galleries

Marudai Ogiyawas a kimono merchant that prospered from the Edo period to the Showa period through the Mogami River shipping trade. Seven historical buildings are preserved on the approximately 700-tsubo (approx. 2,300 sq ft) site, including a miso storehouse built in 1832 (Tenpo 3) and a new reception room built in 1912 (Taisho 1). Of these, six buildings—the main house, shop, storehouse, inner storehouse, reception room storehouse, and new reception room—aredesignated as tangible cultural properties of Yamagata Prefecturewhich exhibits the works of the owner, the sculptor Naganuma Kozothe "Naganuma Kozo Sculpture Museum,"stands

Former Marudai Ogiya ＜Information＞

• Facility name: Former Marudai Ogiya
• Address: 1-11-7 Tokamachi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-4151
• Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
• Closed: Mondays, the last day of the month (the following day if Monday is a public holiday), and winter (December 29th to March 31st)
• Admission fee: Free admission to the former Marudai Ogiya

• Naganuma Kozo Sculpture Museum exhibits sculptures by the head of the Naganuma family
• Admission fee: Adults 300 yen, High school students 200 yen, Elementary and middle school students 100 yen

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The oldest government building in Yamagata: Former Nishiokitama County Office (Kozakurakan)

The former Nishiokitama County Office (a designated tangible cultural property of Nagai City)was built in 1878 (Meiji 11) as the office of Nishiokitama County, where Nagai is located, when the county system was established during the Meiji era.It is the oldest county office building in Yamagata Prefecture (and the second oldest in Japan).Currently, it is used as "Kozakura-kan," a venue for cultural activities by local residents.

Former Nishiokitama County Office <Information>

• Facility name: Former Nishiokitama County Office (Kozakurakan)
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (until 21:00 when activities or exhibitions are held)
• Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday)
• Admission fee: Free (fees apply for facility use)

• Facility name: Bunkyo no Mori Nagai
• Address: 1-11-7 Tokamachi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-4151
• URL:Bunkyo no Mori Nagai

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Yamase Gura (Yamase Gura Museum) - the storehouse of a wealthy merchant who made his fortune from Nagai Tsumugi silk

The Yamase Warehousesbelonged to the Mogamiya family, who made their fortune through water transport of clothing, including used clothes, tabi socks, and later Nagai silk, since the Genroku era. The head of the family worked to improve Nagai silk, and the family reached its peak during the Meiji era.Five warehouses built during the Meiji eraremain, giving a glimpse into the wealth and prosperity of the family.

Yamase Kura <Information>

• Facility name: Yamase Kura (Yamase Kura Museum)
• Address: 6-61 Aramachi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-9988
• Opening hours: 10:00-17:00
• Opening days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
• Closed: Mondays to Thursdays, and during the winter season (late November to early April)
• Admission fee: Adults 500 yen, High school and university students 300 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 100 yen

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The building from the Meiji era is the "Nabeya Main Store"

Nabeya Hontenis a hardware store that was founded in the late Edo period and is still in business today. The building is the original one that was rebuilt in the 1890s (Meiji 30s), and it is an extremely valuable building for understanding shops and life during the Meiji period. Itis designated as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

Nabeya Main Store <Information>

• Facility name: Nabeya Main Store
• Address: 1-10-15 Tokamachi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-5279 (Nagai City Tourism Association)

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An Edo-period building still in use: Japanese sake brewery "Naganuma Partnership Company"

Naganuma Gomei Kaisha is a sake brewery founded in 1916 (Taisho 5). Before becoming a sake brewery, it operated a kimono shop and a sericulture business.Six of its buildings, including the main house from the late Edo period, a storehouse from the Meiji period, and a brewing storehouse built in the Taisho period, are designated as registered tangible cultural properties of Japan.The brand name of its sakeSomurais

Naganuma Partnership <Information>

• Facility name: Naganuma General Partnership
• Address: 1-1-39 Tokamachi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-2007

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The former Nagai Elementary School No. 1 building was an active school building until a few years ago

The former Nagai Elementary School's first buildingis a two-story wooden school building constructed in 1914 (Taisho 3) and was used as an active elementary school until 2015 (Heisei 27). It is a very distinctive building with its bright red exterior walls, a grand staircase in the center, and a long corridor with a boat-shaped ceiling, andis designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property. Ithas now been renovated and is used as a center for "learning" and "exchange" in Nagai City.

Former Nagai Elementary School First Building <Information>

• Facility name: Former Nagai Elementary School First Building
• Address: 5-3 Mamanoue, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-87-1802 (former Nagai Elementary School first building)
• Business hours: 9:30-21:30
• Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), December 29th to January 3rd
• *Please inquire for details on how to use the service
• URL:Former Nagai Elementary School First Building

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Yamaichi Soy Sauce Shop, a 100m long row of old buildings

Yamaichi Soy Sauce Storeis a soy sauce and miso brewery that dates back to 1846 (Koka 3), and the current building was rebuilt around 1920 (Taisho 9). Adjacent to the store are the young workers' quarters, the soy sauce brewery, the brewing area, and the miso brewery, stretching for approximately 100 meters. The miso and soy sauce, handmade using traditional methods, are loved not only by locals but also by many repeat customers from far away(registered tangible cultural property of Japan).

Yamaichi Soy Sauce Store <Information>

• Facility name: Yamaichi Soy Sauce Store
• Address: 6-57 Aramachi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-2068
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00
• Closed: Sundays and public holidays
• Brewery tour: Please inquire
• URL:Yamaichi Soy Sauce Store

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Uzen-Narita Station: A Taisho-era station building still in use today

Uzen-Narita Stationopened in 1922 (Taisho 11), during the era of the former Japanese National Railways Nagai Line, the predecessor of the current Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line. The station building remains in its original state andis designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property.

Uzen-Narita Station <Information>

• Facility name: Uzen-Narita Station
• Address: 1882-2 Narita, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-2002 (Yamagata Railway)
• URL:Flower Nagai Line

Nagai City <Information>

• Nagai City
• Location: Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-88-5279 (Nagai City Tourism Association)
• URL:Nagai City Tourism Association

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