History and travel records

The Ota clan, descendants of Minamoto no Yorimasa (Settsu Genji), who rose up against the Taira clan alongside Prince Mochihito, were based in Tanba (present-day Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture) and took the name Ota. They later moved to Sagami, where, under the reign of his father, Ota Sukekiyo (Doshin), he demonstrated his skills as the head retainer of the Ogigayatsu Uesugi clan. The Ogigayatsu Uesugi clan was a branch of the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan, which had produced the Kanto

I started this year's historical walk with a visit to Takasaki's ancient tombs, but before I knew it, the end of the year was upon us, and I had been planning to explore the ancient tombs on the opposite bank of the Tone River. Gunma Prefecture is lined from west to east with the famous mountains of Myogi, Haruna, and Akagi. The Tone River, which flows between Haruna and Akagi, splits vertically and gradually flows eastward as it enters Maebashi city. Akagi Shrine, esteemed a

Yabakei is the general name for the gorge that unfolds in the upper and middle reaches of the Yamakuni River, and is a scenic spot with many different faces, created by the erosion of the large amount of pyroclastic flow deposits (welded tuff) from a major eruption that occurred one million years ago. This time, we visited the famous Hitome Hakkei, where countless stone pillars standing like grave markers and gaps in the cliffs are covered with trees of various colors. Rai Sa

I have only ever been to Ryogoku to watch sumo, but I decided to take a walk around the quiet Ryogoku area on a weekday when there was no sumo tournament. As November approaches, NHK's taiga drama series is reaching its final stretch. The protagonist of "Berabou," Tsutaya Juzaburo, is in his twilight years, and the story will depict Edo after the fall of Matsudaira Sadanobu. The script and cast are excellent, but what's particularly noteworthy right now is the comedian Kukki

Mt. Daisen has been quiet since it last erupted over 20,000 years ago and is now classified as a dormant volcano. It is a famous mountain that can be seen from anywhere in western Tottori Prefecture, but the mountain's body has a complex shape due to collapses caused by eruptions and lava domes from underground, and it looks completely different depending on the angle from which you view it. Looking up from Masumizu Plateau, it looks like twin mountains. From the top of Yonag

The Yamanobe Road is said to be the oldest official road in Japan, and runs along the mountain edge on the southeastern edge of the Nara Basin. The reason it is on a slightly elevated area is that much of the Nara Basin was wetland and swampland during the Kofun period, and going back even further, it was a lake during the Jomon period. The ancient tombs and shrines along the road tell the story of this area being the birthplace of the Yamato nation, and it's fun to walk alon

Two valleys (Kiso Valley and Ina Valley) run vertically through southern Nagano Prefecture, with the Kiso River flowing to the west and...

While living in Tokyo, one tends to think that Kamakura is close and one can go there anytime, but I decided to take a leisurely walk...

Taga Castle was built in the early Nara period (the first year of the Jinki era, 724) as an administrative center and a military garrison...

Asama is an archaic word meaning volcano, originally called "Asama" and then "Sengen" from the Middle Ages onwards, and coupled with the...

The road heading south from Itoigawa to Hakuba and Omachi is known as the "Salt Road," and salt and seafood have been transported there...

The Matsumae clan, the only feudal lord in Ezo (Hokkaido) under the feudal domain system, originally called themselves the Kakizaki clan,...

The ancient Echigo Province capital was located in Fushiki, Takaoka City, in the western part of Toyama Prefecture. Nearby is the...

Last time, I traveled around Tohoku, following in Basho's footsteps, on what I called "the shortcut to the depths," ten years ago. While...

Although I say I like Japanese history, I have never actually visited Ise Grand Shrine, and I felt a little inferior. I have visited many...

I was worried about the rainy season weather while arranging tickets and accommodation for Saga, but before I knew it, the dry rainy...

Soma Ota Shrine in Haramachi (present Minamisoma City) was built when Soma Shigetane moved with his family and retainers from Moriya...

Sado has an area of 855 km2, 60% of Oahu and 30% larger than the 23 wards of Tokyo, and is home to 47,000 people. Oahu has 900,000...

Naegi Castle is known as the best mountain castle in Japan, and was the residence of the Toyama clan of Naegi Domain, which had a fief of...

I came to Tokushima for the first time for a relative's wedding. Awa Province is a place of desire for history buffs, but unfortunately I...