[Gojo (① Yoshino River and "horizontal" development)] (Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, former province name: Yamato)

When you look at a map of Yamato Province, which is now Nara Prefecture, you can see that the southern half of the province is covered by steep mountain ridges, with fine folds and water currents carved into it like intricate workmanship. This "mountain territory" was revered with awe by the people of the capital who lived in the plains to the north, and while the blue mountains are covered in thick clouds and mist, it has maintained a unique mysticism. On the other hand, because it has abundant forest resources and a topography that is easy to defend, it has also been of great interest to the rulers of Yamato Province, who have sought nodes to this territory since ancient times. Eventually, these nodes appeared as cities and shrines on the borders where the mountains melt into the plains, and are inherited by the major municipalities in the central and southern parts of Nara Prefecture today. Of these, Gojo was the most important transportation hub in the westernmost area, leading to Kii Province (present-day Wakayama Prefecture). Gojo is located at the southern end of the long mountain range that stretches from Ikoma to Katsuragi to Kongo, which separates Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture, and is a plain that is slightly separated from the Omine mountain range that stretches from Yoshino to Kumano. This narrow plain was developed by the Yoshino River (known as the Kino River in Wakayama Prefecture), which originates in the deep mountain valley of Omine, flows through "junctions" such as Kamiichi and Shimoichi, overlooking Mount Yoshino in the distance, and then flows out of Kii Province into the Kitan Strait. If you look at the place names along the coast, you can see that it passes through all the key points of Yamato and Kii, which have been disputed areas in ancient Japanese history, and you can easily understand its great value. Evidence that Gojo has long been considered of strategic value is the existence of Eizan-ji Temple (photos 2-5, originally called Sakiyama-dera). Its founding dates back to 719 and is said to have been founded by Muchimaro (680-737, eldest son of Fuhito), the ancestor of the Southern House of the Fujiwara clan. It is a noteworthy historical fact that Muchimaro, a powerful aristocrat in the imperial government at the time, established his clan temple here, and considering its location facing the Yoshino River to the south, Muchimaro's desire to firmly control this waterway can also be seen. Furthermore, Muchimaro's son, Fujiwara no Nakamaro (706-764, later renamed Emi no Oshikatsu), who monopolized the imperial court in the mid-Nara period, built an octagonal hall on the temple grounds to commemorate his father's soul. Its design, which strikes an exquisite balance between aesthetic sense and functionality, is one of the quintessences of Tenpyo culture that remains to this day, and it is a noteworthy historical building in central and southern Nara Prefecture. In the Middle Ages, the Gojo area became a stage for conflict, and the region suffered severe damage, with Eizan-ji Temple burning down, leaving only its octagonal hall. The man who played a key role in its recovery was Matsukura Shigemasa (?-1630), who was given 10,000 koku of land in Gojo after the Battle of Sekigahara. Shigemasa, a senior vassal of the powerful Tsutsui clan in Yamato Province, was adept at sensing the changing times, and drew close to the mainstream of power, Toyotomi and Tokugawa, and was given the key location of Gojo. Later, Shigemasa moved to Shimabara in Hizen Province (present-day Saga Prefecture and most of Nagasaki Prefecture), where he ruled harshly and is said to have been the cause of the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion (1637), for which he is infamous in history. However, in Gojo, he is revered as a wise ruler who came up with a clever commercial promotion policy. Gojo Shinmachi, developed by Shigemasa, is a block that connects the Futami district, where the feudal government was located, with the old Gojo village along the Yoshino River, and by incorporating the Kishu Kaido into the town, it prospered while inheriting the bustle and flow of people from the old town. Even after Shigemasa moved to Shimabara and Gojo became a shogunate territory, Shinmachi continued to thrive under the rule of the Gojo Magistrate's Office, and despite repeated disasters, it has retained its traditional streetscape to this day. If you actually visit the area, you can hear the pleasant sound of the Yoshino River while walking around the town, and you can really feel the location's strong focus on water transportation. The streetscape includes the oldest house in Japan with a specific date (the Kuriyama family residence, built in 1607), while new things are blowing in, such as "chocobanashi Hitotsubashi Chocolate Stand Store," which manufactures and sells craft chocolate (photos 7-9; renovated and operated from a 100-year-old mochi shop in Gojo called Hitotsubashi. However, it is scheduled to relocate in March 2024). Although the area may be bustling, it fully embodies the charm and pride of being a "hub." Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visited: Around 2pm on a weekday in the first week of October Access: About 25 minutes on foot from Gojo Station (to Eizan-ji Temple) #Eizan-ji Temple #Gojo-shinmachi #Gojo-shinmachi Street #Nara #Nara Prefecture #Nara Trip #Nara Sightseeing #I'm a Nara Schooler #Delicious and Beautiful Nara #Back to Nara #Nara Beauty #Gojo City #Domestic Travel Lover #Temple Tour #Temple Lover #National Treasure #Temple and Shrine Tour #Temple and Shrine Tour #Shrine and Temple Tour #Important Traditional Buildings #Old Streets #Old Streets #Famous Architecture #Walking the Highway #chocobanashi #Craft Chocolate #History Lover #Solo Travel #Life with Travel