A Journey Through Nagahama: Tracing the Legacy of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

The journey begins on the reconstructed Nagahama Castle, located on the shores of Lake Biwa. While historic data of the unique fort’s construction are scarce, the present three-tiered, five-story maintain was rebuilt 423 years in the past in response to native demand for a monument honoring Hideyoshi’s legacy. From the highest ground, guests can get pleasure from sweeping views of Mount Ibuki, standing at 1,377 meters, its snow-capped peaks creating a panoramic backdrop.

Inside the fort, exhibitions element Hideyoshi’s governance of Nagahama, together with his financial insurance policies equivalent to free commerce zones and tax exemptions, which spurred native commerce and remodeled the city right into a bustling financial hub. Among the various artifacts on show are replicas of Hideyoshi’s private armor and lacquered conflict followers utilized by his navy commanders.

Next, the investigation results in Kunitomo, as soon as a thriving middle of firearm manufacturing. The Kunitomo Firearm Museum showcases an intensive assortment of vintage weapons, revealing the realm’s function in shaping Japan’s navy historical past. During the Edo interval, Kunitomo was certainly one of Japan’s two largest gun manufacturing facilities, with over 70 forges and 500 expert craftsmen producing high-quality firearms. Some of those weapons have been utilized by Oda Nobunaga and Hideyoshi of their navy campaigns.

Moving on, the Nagahama Hikiyama Museum introduces guests to the town’s famend Hikiyama Festival, certainly one of Japan’s three main float festivals alongside Kyoto’s Gion Festival and Takayama’s Festival. The origins of this spectacular occasion hint again to Hideyoshi, who distributed sake to the townspeople in celebration of his new child son. This gesture led to the creation of the competition’s magnificent Hikiyama floats, elaborately adorned and often known as ‘moving museums.’ The museum completely displays two of those gorgeous floats, showcasing their intricate craftsmanship and historic significance.

A brief stroll from the museum results in Kurokabe Square, a preserved historic district alongside the previous Hokkokukaidō route, which related the Hokuriku area with Kyoto and Osaka. Among its highlights is the Kurokabe Glass Museum, housed in a former financial institution from the Meiji period. This institution, often known as the ‘Black Wall Bank,’ has been restored to its unique attraction and now showcases a wide range of beautiful glassworks.

Near Nagahama Station, guests also can discover Japan’s oldest surviving practice station constructing. Built in 1882, the Former Nagahama Station served as an important hub on the nation’s early railway community. Now working because the Nagahama Railway Square, the location provides insights into Japan’s railway historical past, together with displays on the nation’s first rail-connected ferry system, which transported passengers throughout Lake Biwa earlier than the complete railway line to Kyoto was accomplished.

Finally, the journey concludes on the Nagahama Bonbai Exhibition, held on the historic Keiun-kan villa, which as soon as hosted Emperor Meiji throughout his travels. This seasonal occasion options meticulously cultivated plum bonsai bushes, some over 400 years previous, displaying gorgeous blossoms in opposition to the aged trunks—a testomony to the enduring great thing about nature.

Nagahama, a metropolis formed by Hideyoshi’s imaginative and prescient, continues to captivate guests with its wealthy historic legacy, cultural treasures, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether exploring the fort, admiring vintage firearms, or marveling at delicate plum blossoms, a go to to Nagahama provides an unforgettable journey by means of time.

Source: YOMIURI