https://nz.trip.com/moments/detail/imizu-56571-126263720
hanakin_kozakuraJapan
levelIconSenior Travel Expert

[Shinminato/Uchikawa] (Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture, former province name: Etchu)

Toyama Bay is a place where abundant marine resources and clean scenery are in perfect harmony. It goes without saying that the climate has been the foundation for many arts and designs since ancient times, but it also boasts a strong influence as a key political and transportation point, and even today, traces of this can be seen in the modernized Toyama Port. With the Tateyama mountain range in the background, the Kaiwomaru (second photo) is sailing with its sails billowing in the seasonal winds. Since its launch in 1930, this large sailing training ship has trained many sailors, and its elegant appearance is so great that it is also called the "Lady of the Sea." It is currently moored at the north pier of Toyama New Port and open to the public, and attracts tourists from Japan and abroad as a key figure in the beauty of Toyama Prefecture. The Shinminato area, famous as a tourist destination, has long functioned as an important port on the sea route through the Sea of ​​Japan, and since prehistoric times has been a foothold for nobles travelling down to Ecchu Province (present-day Toyama Prefecture). In particular, the Jinbo clan, who served as senior vassals to the shugo daimyo Hatakeyama clan and acted as deputy shugo of Ecchu Province during the Muromachi period, controlled this water transport and eventually grew in influence to the point of surpassing their lord and becoming independent as a Sengoku daimyo. At the end of the 15th century, Naganobu (?-1501), head of the clan, provided refuge in his own territory for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiki (1466-1523, later renamed Yoshitada and Yoshitane), who had been supported by the Hatakeyama clan but had been defeated in a political struggle in Kyoto and imprisoned. Although they were merely subordinate vassals in the eyes of the shogun, they had a hidden influence on the political situation of Japan as a whole, calling themselves the shogunate in opposition to the government in Kyoto. Nagamasa based his base in Hojozu, near Shinminato, and Yoshiki also lived there, so in historical records this exiled government is referred to as the "Hojozu Shogunate." The lagoon that was the symbol of Hojozu, Hojozugata, has now been filled in with the construction of the port, but if you walk along the beach west from Shinminato, you will find Hojozu Hachimangu Shrine (third photo), which retains its imposing sacred grounds and tells of its former prosperity. The name Hojozu is said to have originated from the Hojoe festival held at this Hachimangu Shrine, and it is said that the Nara period provincial governor Otomo no Yakamochi (718-785) built the shrine by inviting the god Hachiman from Kyushu. From these supporting evidences, it is obvious that this area was developed quite early in Ecchu Province and was a region that led the development of Ecchu Province. After visiting Hojotsu Hachiman Shrine, we headed further west and came across a canal lined with fishing boats in an orderly fashion. This river, called "Uchikawa", is a waterway that stretches for about 3 km west from Shinminato, and during the Edo period it prospered along with other ports in Ecchu Province as a relay point for Kitamae ships. In contrast to Shinminato (Toyama New Port), which has undergone great development as a modern port, the area still retains a strong nostalgic atmosphere, and you can enjoy a stroll in the calm atmosphere of ripples swaying boats. There are many bridges over the canal for both pedestrians and vehicles, and the imaginative designs, such as the "Higashibashi" bridge, which looks like it is wearing a red tricorn hat, are also attracting attention. One of them is "BRIDGE BAR" (photos 1, 5-10), which sits quietly at the east end of Sanno Bridge. The owner, who is from Hawaii, opened the bar after being attracted to the scenery of Uchikawa, and the bar offers a carefully selected drink menu, including American blended whiskey. Among them, "Uchikawa Blue" is an original cocktail based on Sauza tequila, combined with blue curacao and lime juice. The beautiful blue color reminiscent of the canal and the refreshing acidity make for an exquisite taste. There is also a full food menu, including the bartender's original French toast. In the chic atmosphere of the bar, modeled after hard stone and wood, you can reminisce about your travel memories and the history of Uchikawa to your heart's content. While doing so, the bartender urges me to go up the stairs to the second floor. Looking out the wide-angle window where the setting sun is shining in, I see seabirds crossing the canal to return to their nests, and the sunlight and boats swaying in the ripples they leave behind. As I gazed upon this soft, serene scene in awe, I looked back at the interior of the store I was in and realized that I was surrounded by a design based on precise calculations. I was struck by the almost miraculous fine sense of Toyama, a place where the contrast between "nature and man-made" is skillfully woven together. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visit date: Around 6pm on the second Saturday of April Access: About 8 minutes walk from Shinmachiguchi Station (to Uchikawa) #Shinminato #Uchikawa #BRIDGEBAR #ToyamaTrip #ToyamaTourism #ImizuCity #HokurikuTrip #HokurikuTourism #toyama_next #ToyamaTourismNavi #ToyamaSerious #DomesticTravelLover #WantToConnectWithDomesticTravelLover #Kaiwomaru #KaiwomaruPark #ToyamaNewPort #HojotsuHachimanguShrine #MuromachiShogunate #UchikawaWalk #Nostalgia #Nostalgic #Canal #Kitamaebune #PortTown #WhiskeyBar #OriginalCocktail #HistoryLover
View Original Text
󰴉In your selected region or language, selecting this Trip Moment's hashtags won't redirect you to the hashtag page
*Created by local travelers and translated by AI.
Posted: Nov 14, 2024
Submit
0
Mentioned in This Moment
Destination

Imizu

409 attractions | 23 posts
Japan
View
Related Moments
poi-tag-icon
Imizu

[Donku: Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture] Izakaya where you can eat delicious seafood 🍺

maya0309
Kaiomaru Park

Kaiwomaru Park

しのびちゃんとTAISHIのツーリング日記
Shimminato Kittokito Ichiba

Shinminato Fisherman's Market

chungcy
poi-tag-icon
Imizu

[Yakiniku Hormone Hikari Hibaritei: Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture]

maya0309
Lover's Sanctuary Monument, Kaiwomaru Park

Minato Oasis Kaiwomaru Park: Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture

maya0309
Shimminato Kittokito Ichiba

[Toyama Prefecture] Fresh! Recommended seafood restaurant!! 🦀

ぱおんぞうさん
Kurokawa Park

"Heihe Park: Cherry Blossom Viewing in Spring, the Joy of Life"

BusbyTo
poi-tag-icon
Imizu

[Toyama] A fresh and affordable restaurant in the market 🐟

Molly358
Kaiwomaru

Toyama Uminomaru Park, a sacred place for lovers

佛系修心
Shinminato-ohashi Bridge

Shinminato Bridge from Kaiwomaru Square, Toyama Prefecture

yu-ka
poi-tag-icon
Imizu

[Takaoka Castle Town (②Restoration by merchants and townspeople)] (Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, former province name: Etchu)

hanakin_kozakura
Tateyama Museum of Toyama (Exhibition Hall)

[Tateyama Museum ①] (Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture, formerly Etchu Province)

hanakin_kozakura