In Izumozaki, there was a magistrate’s office in the Edo period that controlled the 70,000 koku (approximately 12.6 million liters of crop yield) of territories under the direct control of the Edo Shogunate. There is the ruin of a magistrate’s office on the outskirts of the streets of the old houses. This street was the “Hokkoku Kaido”, which transports gold and silver of Sado to Edo. A model of a pleasure boat by Sado Magistrate is on display at the municipal tourist facility “Echigo Izumozaki Tenryo no Sato”. Small-cargo vessel wholesalers are lined in Izumozaki, and it seems that many boats accompanied the ship when Sado Magistrate crossed the sea. The original song “Izumozaki Okesa” of “Sado Okesa” was sung here.
It was originally a song from “Haiyabushi” in Kyushu, told by sailors on Kitamae-bune.
ports of call
Cultural Properties of Izumozaki Town
Townscape of Tsumairi
The townscape of Izumozaki, which flourished as a port of call for Kitamae-bune and an unloading port for gold and silver of Sado.
Former Tomariya
This is the residence of the Sanoya, a small-cargo vessel wholesaler and tomariya (inn for young people) that made a fortune through Kitamae-bune. The docks and warehouses still exist.
A group of funa-ema (The Haguro Shrine, The Narutaki Shrine, The Koshoji Temple)
Funa-ema that Kitamae-bune shipowners dedicated prayer for the safety of the voyage.
Tomohata (stern flag)
Tomohata that has been handed down to the Yagi Family, a small-cargo vessel wholesaler.
Documents for Kitamae-bune housed in Tenryo no sato Jidaikan
In addition to documents from the wealth merchant Tsurugaya and Kumakiya, a large number of materials related to Kitamae-bune, such as a ship model, license plate relic, a Buddhist altar, and a four-jaw anchor, are stored.
Izumozaki Okesa
A folk song that fuses the existing okesa folk song and, haiya-bushi of Ushibuka, Kyushu passed down by Kitamae-bune.
Ofunauta (a sailor’s song)
Folk song sung at the event praying for a good catch of fish and safety of a ship, such as when Kitamae-bune was newly built.
Boat tether
The stone that connected the painter of the ship when Kitamae-bune moored. It is also called bonkui.
