10 Time Travel Hokkaido Advertisementadvertisement Castle and the Streetscapes of the Teramachi District to the North Still Retain Much of Their Edo Period Atmosphere
10 Time Travel Hokkaido AdvertisementAdvertisement Castle and the streetscapes of the Teramachi district to the north still retain much of their Edo period atmosphere. The cherry blossom season in Hokkaido From the 17th century to the 19th transported not only freight but human begins in Matsumae, where the trees were century, the main trade between Honshu resources, too, prompting cultural planted long ago, to remind the people who and Ezo-chi, as Hokkaido was once exchanges with the mainland that resulted moved there from Honshu of Edo and their known, was carried out by means of in traditional crafts and skills being hometowns so far away. Each year, from Japanese seafaring vessels known as introduced to Hokkaido. late April to mid May, the area around FURANO JAPAN kitamae ships. From their base in Osaka, Matsumae Castle becomes the venue of a the ships would sail to Hokkaido via the Matsumae cherry blossom festival, with over 10,000 Setonai Sea and Sea of Japan, Located on the southern tip of Hokkaido trees of approximately 250 early- and transporting the goods of each region to across the Tsugaru Strait from Honshu, late-blossoming varieties creating a sea of trade at the ports. Matsumae was originally inhabited by the pink befitting of one of Hokkaido’s most Not only did the kitamae ships call at indigenous Ainu, but by the end of the famous cherry blossom sites. the easily accessible ports of Matsumae, Heian period had become inhabited by Hakodate and Esashi in southern Japanese, eventually becoming the focal Are you in this picture? Hokkaido, but also ventured as far east point of Hokkaido’s history with the as Kushiro, Nemuro and even to the formation of the Matsumae Clan in 1606. distant islands of Kunashiri, Etorofu and As the kitamae ships arrived, a distinctive Karafuto (Sakhalin). The ships that culture developed, and during the Edo headed to Hokkaido were loaded with period the area was known as “little Kyoto © Matsumae-cho Board of Education cotton, rice, sake, salt and the like, and of the north.” returned with forestry resources and Matsumae Castle (Fukuyama Castle), Matsumae Castle & Castle Museum marine products such as herring, fish which was completed in 1854, was the ■Open: Apr. 10 to Dec.10 innards for fertilizer, seaweed and last-ever Japanese-style castle to be ■Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ■Admission: Adults ¥350; elementary, junior high salmon. constructed. A fire in 1949 destroyed the school pupils ¥230 ■Access: Approx. 3 hours by bus from in front of JR The areas around the ports in castle tower but was subsequently restored Hakodate Station, or approx. 1 hour 30 min. by bus Hokkaido into which the ships sailed to its former glory. The castle’s Honmaru from in front of JR Kikonai Station. prospered from the trade, and industries Gomon gate is designated as an important http://www.asobube.com/ in the region thrived. The kitamae ships cultural property of Japan. Matsumae
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