ＥＳＡＳＨＩ ＴＯＷＮ ＧＵＩＤＥ |  |
A Town Blessed with the Romance of History |
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| Esashi is one of the oldest towns in Hokkaido. In the Edo era,it so thrived with herring fishery and trading with wealthy Kansai merchants that people once said,Esashi in May has no equal,meaning that not even Edo could match its prosperity in that season. The town`s glorious cultural and historical heritage is well preserved,telling of those heydays. |
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| Esashi,which is known as the foothold of Ezo(Hokkaido) |
| colonization,boasts an outstanding cultural heritage |
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KAMOMEJIMA |
(KAMOME ISLAND) |
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This small island is femous for its
natural beauty and the surrounding
crystal-clear sea. It is designated as a
special region in Hiyama Prefectural
Park and is treasured by the local
people as a symbol of Esashi. |
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Constructed in 1615 by shipping agents
as a shrine dedicated to safeguarding
marine activities. In its precincts
stands a monument inscribed with a
poem by Basho. It reads Ikameshikioto
ya Arare no Hinoki-gasa(What
animposing sound!/It is hailing /on my
helmet made of japanese cypress.) |
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This rock described in legend relates to
the tradition of herring fishery. During
the annual Kamomejima Festival, the
local young people tie it with a 30-
meter-long sacred straw festoon. |
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Established in 1932 through the efforts
of Kojiro Takano, a staff member of
the Esashi OiwakeAssociation and
supporting members. It is believed that
the well-known ballad, Esashi
Oiwake spread throughout japan since
this taime. |
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KAIYOMARU |
(YOUTH TRAINING FACILITY) |
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YOKOYAMAKE |
(The Yokoyama Residence:Designated an Important Cultural Property by the Hokkaido Government) |
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This square-rigged wooden battleship
was made by a Dutch shipbuilding firm
by order of the Tokugawa Government
more than 120 years ago. It was
stranded off Esashi in 1868. Later it
was salvaged and restored and now is
used as a youth training facility. It also
displays japan`s oldest seafloor relics
and the like. | |
This was the residence of the only
merchant family in southern Hokkaido
in the Edo era engaged in fishery, trade
and shipping agency. The main building
and the fourth storeroom are now used
as exhibition rooms displaying tools
and utensils that were used for herring
fishing at its peak. |
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This museum includes a gallery floored
with 100 tatami mats as well as
anexhibition room which displays
variousdata on the history of the
Esashi Oiwake. You can experience
Esashi Oiwakehere.
Tel:(01395)2-0920 |
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Legend has it that this shrine was
constructed at the behest of Orii Uba
(old woman) in 1447. It is the oldest
shrine in Hokkaido. At the annual
Togyo Festival(August 9 to 11), floats
and portable shrines parade through the
streets. |
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HAPPO NIRAMI NO RYU |
| (Picture of Dragon Glaring in Eight Directions) |
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One of the oldest buildings in
Hokkaido and a remainder of
magnificent architectural style of the
Muromachi period. Many old art
works of great cultural significance,
such as pictures of Buddha and folding
screens, are well preserved here. |
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This painting that spans a square area
of 49 u adorns the ceiling of Hokkeji
Temple`s main hall. The dragon in the
center seems to stare at onlookers from
every direction. |
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| Streets and houses that lead to the hilltop are serene. |
| It`s qreat and relaxing fun to stroll along the |
| paths in the town. |
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NAKAMURAKE |
(The Nakamura Residence:Designated an important Cultural Property by the National Government) |
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Shogakuin Temple opened some 350
years ago. In its precincts are
monuments of the Kyoho Tidal Wave
victims and to the victims of Hokkai
Steamer Tamaemaru capsizing. |
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Constructed by seafood dealer Uebei
Ohashi in the Edo era, this magnificent
garden-style mansion has a gabled
main building made of japanese
cypress, a storehouse library, a lower
warehouse and detached rooms that
project to the beach for unloading. |
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HIGASHI HONGANJI BETSUIN |
(The Higashi Honganji Branch Temple) |
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THE OLD HIYAMA NISHIGUN |
OFFICE BUILDING |
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One of the six historic Shinshu Otani
Sect Branch Temples in Hokkaido. Its
grandiose gete standing midway up a
mountain and large tile roof are especially
noteworthy. |
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The Hiyama District Office was
designed by a Russian architect and
constructed in 1887. This Westernstyle
building is distinctve because it
was built during the colonization days
and it is the only district office building
that remains in Hokkaido. |
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SEKIKAWAKE |
(The Sekikawa Residence) |
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NISHI HONGANJI BETSUIN |
(The Nishi Honganji Branch Temple) |
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The Sekikawa family owned the most
prosperrous shipping agency in the
Matsumae clan during the Edo era.
Valuable ancient documents and
antique furniture from Esashi`s heyday
are preserved here. |
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This branch temple was originally a rest
station affiliated with Ganjoji Temple,
the latter established about 130 years
ago. Ever since this temple became a
Nishi Honganji branch one, the
neighborhood has been called Onishi
Machi(West District). |
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| The Three Main Esashi Festivals |
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Kamomejima Festival |
(July) |
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Esashi Ubagami Grand Shrine |
Togyo Festival (August) |
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| A festival featuring marine events, such as the decoration of Heishi Rock with a twisted straw festoon and the All Hokkaido Kitamaebune Regatta. | | The oldest festival in Hokkaido. Thirteen floats parade through the town to the sound of flutes and drums. |
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Esashi OiwakeNational |
Singing Competition (September) |
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| Some 270 Oiwake singers chosen nationwide for their talent gather on this occasion to compete for the honor of being named the best Oiwake singer in Japan. |
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| The performing arts of Esashi |
| are deeply connected with its history and tradition. |
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| TheEsashi Oiwakeballad |
| (Hokkaido-Designated Important Intangible Folk-Cultural Property) |
The Shinshu Oiwakeballad, a packhorse driver`s song, was brought to the Echigo region by the samurai warriors who accompanied their feudal lords on regular visits to Edo. Then it developed intoEchigo Oiwake, a sailor`s song, which came to Esashi some 200 years ago, and finally theEsashi Oiwakeballad, a very expressive song. |
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| Gokatte Shishimai |
| (fawn dancing) |
| (Hokkaido-Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property) |
Lumberjacks who cut Japanese cypress handed down this dance as a way of worshipping the mountain. Conflicts and reconciliation among fawns are expressed in its dynamic and dignified movement. |
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| Esashi Okiage Ondo |
| (Esashi offshore fishing song) |
| (Hokkaido-Designated Important Intangible Folk-Cultural Property) |
Afishermen`s song which vividly describes going herring fishing and returning to port. This song dates from about the time of the saying Esashi in May has no equal.The lively atmosphere after a big catch is well expressed in this song. |
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| Esashi San-sagari |
| (tuning down the third string) |
| (Hokkaido-Designated Important Intangible Folk-Cultural Property) |
This was the original song ofEsashi Oiwake and is calledthe mother of the unique Oiwake tune. It is characterized by lyrics expressing merchant`s emotions. This song has been sung especially in the demimonde. |
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| Esashi Mochitsuki Bayashi |
| (musical accompaniment to rice cake pounding) |
| (Hokkaido-Designated Important Intangible Folk-Cultural Property) |
During the period when the town was prospering with herring fishing, the foremen would make large quantities of rice cake all through the night toward the end of the year. Each household would pound five or even ten bags of rice into rice cake. The musical accompaniment of that time has been handed down and it is now replayed with the pounding gestures. |
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| Doba Shishimai |
| (fawn dancing) |
| (Designated a Cultural Property by Esashi Town) |
This dance is of three sections: a Shinto ritual dance of three fawns, a pestle-swinging dance and dancing with the theme of hinds quarreling over a fawn. This dance originated from the Tsugaru fawn dance which relates to a Shinto ritual. |
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| Tazawa Shishimai |
| (fawn dancing) |
| (Designated a Cultural Property by Esashi Town) |
Legend has it that when a few young people once went to a mountain stream to fish for landlocked salmon, under the official order of the Matsumae clan, they saw five deer fighting.
Later, they shaped that sight into a series of dances. |
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| For travel inquiries, please call : |
●Esashi Town Office
Commerce, Industry and Tourism Department
Tel : (0139)52-1020(main telephone) |
●Esashi Tourism Association
Tel : (0139)52-4815 |
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