title: Hokuriku Tales vol.3

Summary

A book of five stories about Fukui, Ishikawa and Toyama with useful data vol.3

scenic beauty of the Kasano-misaki Cape is also a must see. Hashidate fishingport is close by; a row of seafood restaurants wait for you with the fresh catch ofthe day.IshikawaKanaiwa and Ono Districts (Kanawaza City)A narrow alley in Kanaiwa sectionedby heart-charming wooden wallsZeniya Gohei Memorial MuseumKanaiwa was home to Zeniya Gohei, a powerful merchant sometimes referredto as the“Kaga millionaire on the sea”. Ono was home to his rival, the House ofKiya Toemon. The streets of the two neighboring districts of Kanazawa take usback to Edo Period. Take a look at the quarter-sized model of a Kitamaebune, abig anchor, and other interesting items on display, and learn about the excitinglife of the legendary business magnate at the Zeniya Gohei Memorial Museum inKanaiwa.The ready availability ofquality wheat, soybean and saltprovided by Kitamaebune madeOno thrive on soya sauceproduction during Kaga Domaintimes. Today, you can tryoriginal soya sauce ice cream.You will be surprised at thecaramel-like flavor and will wantto have another one. The OnoKarakuri (mechanical dolls)Kinenkan Museum houses acollection of works fromBenkichi Ono, a late-Edo PeriodA statue of Zeniya Gohei in the park named after himinventor and a technical adviser stares at the sea horizon. (left)to Zeniya Gohei.You will never forget the rich flavor of soya sauceice cream. (right)FukuiKonoKitamae Senshu-no-Yakata (formerbuilding of House of Ukon)Houses in Kono are sandwiched between the sea and the mountains atthe mouth of Tsuruga Bay.10 Hokuriku Tales vol.3The Kono District of Minami-Echizencho Town in Fukui Prefecture preservesmany of the big houses built by the local Kitamaebune ship-owners. Smallcommunities line up in a narrow strip bordered by the shoreline and the nationalhighway. Alongside the old road that runs parallel to the highway, you will find arow of old houses and warehouses that belonged to the ship-owners. The formermansion of the House of Ukon, one of the top five Kitamaebune ship-ownersbased here, is open to the public today as Kitamae Senshu-no-Yakata. The mainbuilding is on the mountain side of the old road togetherwith three private warehouses; four merchandisewarehouses are on the shore side. The expensive zelkovaand cypress pillars used in the main building are indeedimpressive. Behind the main building atop the hill standsa villa called“Western Mansion.”You can enjoy the viewfrom its balcony overlooking the village and the bay.The fate of crewmen was often referred to as:“Theship’s bottom deck is the door to hell.”Accordingly, theywere very pious; many votive plaques that ship-ownersand crew members offered to Hachiman Shrine andIsozaki Shrine in their prayer for safe voyage arepreserved to this date.