During the Edo period, Ishiwaki-minato (Ishiwaki Port) for the Kameda clan and Furuyuki-minato (Furuyuki Port) for the Yajima clan and Honjo clan were built across each other at the estuary of the Koyoshigawa River flowing through Yurihonjo City. Ishiwaki-minato prospered as the important anchor of Kameda clan, and a row of small-cargo vessel wholesalers, ryokans and restaurants opened in a row, creating a bustling cityscape with the glitz of Hanayanagi entertainment streets. From Hokkaido, marine products such as herring and kelp were carried in, and from Kamigata (Hokuriku, San-in and Osaka) salt, cotton, paper, umbrellas, tiles and more were carried. In Furuyuki-minato, there were ten wholesalers with stocks who were authorized by the Hojo clan and named “The Small-cargo Vessel Wholesaler’s Ten”, and there were also inn towns and Hanayanagi entertainment towns for sailors.
ports of call
Cultural Properties of Yurihonjo City
Townscape of Furuyuki
The townscape around Furuyuki-minato (Honjo clan) that prospered through Kitamae-bune.
Shinzan (Hiyoriyama)
This is a place where the sailors of Kitamae-bune forecast the weather before departing. It is located on the north side near the mouth of the Koyoshigawa River.
Votive goods of Shinzan Shrine
A stone lantern and a stone torii that dedicated prayers for the safety of voyages by Kitamae-bune.
A former site of Gobansho (police station) in Ishiwaki-minato
A former site of gobansho along the Koyoshigawa River, which prospered through Kitamae-bune.
(Daitoko Gobansho / Nishinoguchi Gobansho etc)
A picture of Ishiwaki
A picture drawn of the Koyoshigawa River which prospered through Kitamae-bune.
Townscape of Ishiwaki
The townscape of Ishiwaki-minato (Kameda clan). Brewing of sake, soy sauce, and miso were popular.
Inari Shrine
Inari Shrine, which was enshrined as the deity god of the Sato family of a small-cargo vessel wholesaler who made their wealth through Kitamae-bune.
Ishiwakisanbutsu
A ceremonial song transmitted to Ishiwaki-minato by sailors of Kitamae-bune.
Votive goods of Honjo Hachiman Shrine
Votive goods such as Komainu (Guard Dog Statues) made from Shakudani stone that show the relationship between maritime traffic on the Japan Sea and Furuyuki-minato, before the time of Kitamae-bune.
Stone-made Komainu of Matsugasaki Hachiman Shrine
A Komainu made of Shakudani stone dedicated to the Matsugasaki Hachiman Shrine. It was transported from Echizen by maritime traffic before Kitamae-bune
Honjo native district museum reference materials
Echizen tile and funadansu (a chest for ships) transported by Kitamae-bune and other reference materials pertaining to Kitamae-bune.
A Funa-ema of Miyashita Shrine
A funa-ema (oldest in the city / formerly Honjo City), which the owners of Kitamae-bune dedicated to prayers for maritime safety.
