Culture

It was opened on the place where the Imperical Ranch Office was located, in order to remember the Shimōsa Imperial Pasture which left its mark as a pioneer of livestock development in Japan on the grounds of Sanrizuka from the beginning of the Meiji Era.

The Kippo-go received the divided tutelary deity as the village shrine in Tenchō 6 (829). The main shrine is built on a sacred lake and is decorated mainly with the works of Nami no Ihachi he produced in his Mid-30s to later half of his life. In the center is a dragon holding a jewel and on the left and right are figures of “Nami ni Sai”. It is usually not open to the public but can be seen at the Annual Festival held at the end of September.

The site of Nakanomaki. One of the Koganemaki that the Edo Shogunate built to meet the demand for war horses. Tokkome was a facility which captured and selected wild horses. Of the three sections, one section is open to the general public. Guides are provided for the other two sections during events. Designated as a National Historic Site on Feburary 6, Heisei 19 (2007).

Here you can learn the history, folklore and about the nature of the local area. On display are stoneware, earthenware, itahi (board monuments), historical documents, folkcraft articles and more, which have been discovered in the city. There are also many exhibits of materials related to maki (pastures), the cultivation of Hatsutomi and more.

A girl who was sold for land tax and suffering from work, fled at night but took the wrong way and could not return to the village. She then threw herself in the pond near the maki (pasture). A villager who felt pity for the girl enshrined Benten (goddess of arts and wisdom) in the pond and comforted her spirit. It is a historical landmark with a folklore showing a part of the lives led by villagers living in Notsukemura.

The “Shishigari no Zu”, a framed ema (votive picture of a horse) was dedicated by a villager who was mobilized in the deer hunting which occurred in Kaei 2 (1849). The scene of deer hunting is depicted, centred around the Shogun who kept the field, with samurai chasing wild boars and deer and sekoninzoku enclosing the animals with fences.

In the past, fishermen observed schools of fish coming offshore and hence it was called "Uomizuka", with the goddess statue "Akatsuki" as a symbol. The panoramic view of the open sea and the cityscape of Kamogawa, the horizon at sunrise and sunset and the beauty of the night scenery are wonderful. It is also called "Oath Hill" where love is fulfilled.

The birthplace of the late Mikio Mizuta, who supported post-war Japan’s rapid economic growth as the Minister of Finance. Living nearby Mineokamaki, the family was closely involved with the operation and management of the maki (pasture) as directors of the Mineokamaki which had become a private company after the Meiji era. The main building and Nagaya-mon gate with the architectural style of farmers affiliated with the Mineokamaki have been preserved in a good condition and are registered as tangible cultural properties of Japan.

A collection and display of approximately 9,000 local materials and cultural heritage which show the lives of people in the olden times of Kamogawa. There is a section with artworks collected by Mikio Mizuta, a former Minister of Finance who is a local. There are also special exhibitions of the poet Koizumi Chikashi and ranma engraver Nami no Ihachi. In addition, the Cultural Property Center displays artefacts excavated from archaeological sites in the city and is worth seeing.