ーJapan Heritageー
Merchant Ships Carrying Goods, Culture, and Big Dreams
～Kitamaebune Ports of Call & Shipowners’ Settlements～

【Certification Story (Overview)】
Along the coasts of the Sea of Japan and Seto Inland Sea, many port towns are located amidst mountainous landscapes. In these towns, narrow alleys lead to the harbors, and grand merchant houses and magnificent shipowners’ mansions line the streets.

In the shrines and temples of these port towns, there are votive tablets and models of ships, they hold festivals originating in distant places like Kyoto, and they sing folk songs with shared melodies.
These towns are the ports of call and shipowners’ settlements of the kitamaebune, which crossed rough seas and generated enormous wealth as they traded up and down the coasts of Japan, bringing prosperity throughout the country. These unique locations developed over time and continue to attract people even today.

※The Former Mikami Residence is a certified Constituent Cultural Property.

ーJapan Heritageー
300 Years of Weaving – The Silk District of Tango

【Certification Story (Overview)】
When visiting Tango in northern Kyoto Prefecture, you may hear the rhythmic clatter of weaving machines from somewhere nearby.

Tango has long been known for its weaving. The silk Tango chirimen fabric, which originated in the Edo period (1603–1868), is supple and highly receptive to dyeing. As a key material for yuzen-dyed kimono and other garments, Tango chirimen has played a vital role in traditional Japanese fashion.

Even today, this region produces approximately 60% of the fabric used for kimono, making it the largest silk-weaving area in Japan. By exploring the iconic landscapes created by the local weaving industry—such as the combined residences and weaving studios known as hataya; the merchant houses; the streets lined with triangular-roofed textile factories; and the iconic sights like Amanohashidate, immortalized in the folk song Miyazu Bushi—you can experience the 300-year history and culture of weaving in this region.

Related Municipalities: Miyazu, Kyotango, Yosano, and Ine

※The Former Mikami Residence is a certified Constituent Cultural Property.

TOP