Chapter 3
The Island that Birthed Prosperity
Renowned as one of "Japan's 100 Best Sunset Spots," Esashi Town offers a mesmerizing spectacle from the heights of Kamome Island. As the sun sets, the endless expanse of sea is painted in radiant shades of crimson, creating a view so stunning it will leave you breathless. Kamome Island, such a spectacular spot, still retains traces of the story of Esashi, which prospered through the herring trade.
What is Kamome Island?
Nestled off the coast of central Esashi, the island is a slender, north-south stretch of land.
As a natural breakwater protecting the area from the raging Sea of Japan,the island was instrumental in fostering Esashi's thriving trade.
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- Kaiyomaru Museum
- Heishi Rock
- Remains of Merchant Ship Mooring
- Remains of Stairs Up Kamome Island
- The Remains of the Banquet Site
- Itsukushima Shrine
- GOAL
Course details
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Heishi Rock
Featured prominently in the "Legend of Ori," Heishi Rock is believed to be the sacred bottle given by a god that was turned into a rock.
URL https://en.esashi.town/tourism/page.php?id=8 Address Kamomejima Esashi-machi, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido -
Remains of Merchant Ship Mooring
On the northeastern coast of Kamome Island lie the remains of mooring posts that once held herring trade ships.
URL https://en.esashi.town/tourism/page.php?id=8 Address Kamomejima Esashi-machi, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido -
Remains of Stairs Up Kamome Island
The stairs were made to allow people up the Kamome Island to pray at Itsukushima Shrine.It was established in the 19th century to allow merchants and their crews of herring trade ships to pray for a safe voyage.
Address Kamomejima Esashi-machi, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido -
The Remains of the Banquet Site
8 holes still remain in a rock flat known as "Senjojiki" located on Kamome Island's western expanse.
Esashi's prosperous merchants, who flourished through the herring trade, erected food stalls here and threw banquets.Address Kamomejima Esashi-machi, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido -
Itsukushima Shrine
The merchants and their crews moored their herring trade ship at Kamome Island and prayed for a safe voyage at this shrine. There are the stone Tori gate, which was donated by ship captains from Ishikawa Pref., and the Temizuya (a water basin), which was donated by the Esashi’s Murakami family together with business partners related to the herring trade ships.
URL https://en.esashi.town/tourism/page.php?id=8 Address Kamomejima Esashi-machi, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido - GOAL
『Matsumae Byobu』Hakodate City Central Library