History
Ganjoju-in Temple(officially-designated historical site)
A scared name meaning “a temple that grants wishes”
- History
- It is said that this temple was built about 800 years ago in prayer of victory. It was developed by local ruling families and Hojo family, and is the resting place for beautiful Buddhist statues of high artistic value. It is presumed that the temple’s grounds were once quite spacious, housing a large pond, shrine and pagoda.
Hiru-ga Kojima
The man who rose out of exile 500 kilometers from the capital
- History
- 800 years ago, the father of a 14-year old boy named Minamoto-no Yoritomo was defeated in war, and chased out of the capital, was banished to Izu. The name of this place conjures up memories of a hilly, dangerous place on the shoals of the Kano River. Yoritomo lived here for 20 years, taking a wife and gathering an army, and then in 1192, he became Shogun and founded the Kamakura Shogunate.
- Museum of History
- At this beautiful park, the house of a farming family (the old Ueno family residence) from 200 years ago is reconstructed, preserved and open for viewing.
Egawa-tei(officially-designated important cultural property)
Dynamically strong ceiling construction developed 400 years ago
- History
- Residence of the local governor and Egawa family. This house was built 400 years ago. The flooring uses 800-year old wood, reminding you that you are in an old samurai house.
- People
- The Egawa family were at the heart of provincial administration, and governed this area for a long time as the central power. Egawa Tan’an, the great local governor 150 years ago, introduced numerous Western technologies. Tan’an is well known as “the first man to popularize bread in Japan” through his introduction of a bread excellent as an emergency provision since it was light and kept well.
- Sightseeing
- Pillars made from living trees and a ceiling framework that is both artistic and dynamic. The north gate is a perfect spot for viewing Mt. Fuji.
Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace(officially-designated historic site)
An arsenal built by Japanese people using Japanese materials
- History
- The Reverberatory Furnace was used to melt metal, which was then cast into cannons. 150 years ago, Egawa Tan’an knew the importance of national defense prior to the arrival of a fleet of ships headed by the American Commodore Perry, and started building a brick furnace.
The cannons built here include 28 gates and a fortress designed to protect Edo, which still stand in Tokyo’s Odaiba area. A reverberatory furnace reflects heat off its dome-shaped ceiling to melt iron at super-high temperatures of several thousand degrees. At that time in Japan, a “reverberatory furnace” itself acted as a kind of arsenal (factory).