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Horiuchi Historical District in Hagi
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Horiuchi Historical District in Hagi
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Hagi, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, used to be the capital of the Choshu Domain during the Edo Age (1603-1868) . Hagi declined after the Edo Age ended, because Yamaguchi City, not Hagi, became the seat of the prefectural government of Yamaguchi prefecture. As a result, Hagi still remains many buildings built in the Edo Age and also remains it's atmosphere as it was in the Edo Age.If you walk to the west from the Kikuya Avenue, you will see the "Kita-no-Somon" Gate of the ruins of Hagi Castle. Kikuya Avenue is a historical district in Hagi. Please refer the page of "Kikuya Avenue in Hagi" for more detail: http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chugoku/Hagi_KikuyaAv_E.html 
The "Kita-no-Somon" Gate was the main entrance of Hagi Castle. The gate was rebuilt in 2004. If you go through the "Kita-no-Somon" Gate, you will be in the third bailey of the ruins of Hagi Castle. This area is named "Horiuchi" and is designated as the important preservation district of historic buildings. In the Edo Age, the retainers of the MORI Clan, the feudal lord of Choshu Domain, lived in this area. After passing through the Kita-no-Somon" Gate, you will reach to a T-junction. If you take a right at the T-junction, you will see another T-junction. This cranked shaped street was designed in order for enemies not to come into a castle easily. At the second T-junction, MASUDA Residence is located. The building of MASUDA Residence shown in the below picture looks a turret of a castle. 
The stipend of MASUDA family was 12,000 Goku. It was one thirtieth of the total income of Choshu Domain. To the west of the MASUDA Residence, HANZAWA Residence is located. 
If you walk further to the west, you will see SUFU Residence. HANZAWA and SUFU Families are also high class retainers of Choshu Domain. |
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The gate of SUFU residence looks very stout. At the end of the Edo Age, SUFU Masanori, the head of SUFU family, was the prime minister of Choshu Domain. Mud walls with white clay line along most of streets in Horiuchi District. The retainers houses were surrounded with these mud walls in the Edo Age.
Only few houses shown in this page remain from the Edo Age. However, the atmosphere remains as it was in the Edo Age. 
The above picture shows the front gate of MORI Residence. This gate was originally located at the second house of MORI Motonori (1839-1896) , who was the last feudal lord of Choshu Domain. The gate was moved to the current location in 1974.To the west of the front gate of MORI Residence, the mausoleum of MORI Terumoto (1553-1625) is located. MORI Terumoto was a son of MORI Motonari (1553-1625) , who was the founder of MORI Clan, and the father of MORI Hidenari (1553-1625) , who was the first feudal lord of Choshu Domain. |
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The gate of the mausoleum is well decorated. The approach continues from the gate to the mausoleums of MORI Terumoto and his wife were located in a small forest. The grave of NAGAI Jirozaemon is also located. He was a retainer of MORI Terumoto and followed MORI Terumoto to the grave, when MORI Terumoto died. If you walk to the south from the mausoleum of MORI Terumoto, you will see the gate of NINOMIYA Residence.
If you walk further to the south, you will arrive at KUCHIBA Residence. The main house and the gate remain from the Edo Age and these buildings are designated as important property of Japan. KUCHIBA Residence is open to the public. 
KUCHIBA family was a high class retainer of Choshu Domain. However, the inside of the house is very frugally. |
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From the backyard of KUCHIBA Residence, you will see the view of the Hashimoto River. The gently flowing river works as a moat to prevent enemies from coming to the area of Hagi Castle. 
The north of Horiuchi District faces to Japan sea.
The scenery from Kikugahama Beach was spectacular. 
Horiuchi Historical District is a really lovely area and highly recommended to visit. |
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How to get there
Other Historical Sites near by:
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Home Page in Japanese: "Shane's HomePage"