In Kurashiki City, there are three ports at the tip of the Kojima Peninsula overlooking the Seto Inland Sea: Shimotsui prospered as the outer port of the Okayama clan, Tamashima prospered through cultivation and shipment of cotton through large-scale reclamation, and Kojima produced and exported salt from salt fields. In Shimotsui and Tamashima, cotton cultivation was actively carried out, and so they needed herring porridge, which was a fertilizer that Kitamae-bune carried. Tamashima was a trading area for cotton and herring, and Kojima salt and cotton was loaded as return cargo in Shimotsui.
ports of call
Cultural Properties of Kurashiki City
Townscape Preservation District in Shimotsui
A port town that prospered through the trading of cotton and herring by Kitamae-bune.
Former Ogino Family's main house / Nishin-gura warehouse (Mukashi-Shimotsui small- cargo vessel wholesaler)
This is a house of the Ogino family who made their wealth through Kitamae-bune.
Now, materials related to Kitamae-bune are exhibited.
Shimotsui-bushi
This is a folk song representing Okayama Prefecture, which originates from the harbor town Shimotsui. It was widely spread and handed down by the boatmen of Kitamae-bune.
Votive goods of Gion Shrine
Tamagaki that were donated by Kitamae-bune’s merchants. This is located on the cape overlooking Shimotsui Port.
Documents of Shimotsui Gion
Documents showing the prosperity of the commercial port that served as a port of call for Kitamae-bune.
Former Nozaki Family House
A house of Buzaemon Nozaki, a Kitamae-bune shipowner, who was called the king of salt farms.
Former Nozaki Hamatomyodai
A lighthouse to protect the safety of Kitamae-bune entering and exiting Nozakihama.
Townscape Preservation District in Tamashima
A port city that served as a base for buying and selling Bicchu cotton carried in by the water routes of Kitamae-bune and Takase boats. It prospered to the extent that it is was called the "Naniwa (now Osaka) of the West".
Former Yunoki Family house (Saisotei)
The house of the Yunoki Family who was a Kitamae-bune shipowner. Documentation relating to Kitamae-bune remains, and you can read about the prosperity of the port city in its past.
Votive goods of Haguro Shrine
Funa-ema and tamagaki dedicated by Kitamae-bune merchants to pray for maritime safety.
