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日本遺産 国境の島 壱岐・対馬・五島 ～古代からの架け橋～

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Miiraku

Goto

The Goto Islands lie at the westernmost tip of Japan. In ancient times, when diplomatic missions were dispatched from Japan to Tang Dynasty China, Goto was their final port of call immediately before crossing the East China Sea bound for the continent. Hizen-no-Kuni Fudoki, (Chronicles of Hizen Province), contains a reference to “Mineraku no Saki” (Mineraku promontory), and nearby, there are several spots with a connection to the missions to Tang China. These include Fuzengo, a well that is said to have supplied drinking water to the missions’ ships. In the 10th century journal, Kagero Nikki, Miiraku is referred to in a waka poem, as “The island where one can meet the departed – the isle of Mimiraku.” In later generations, Miiraku became the subject of many poems and songs, as an island on the border with foreign lands and as the island of the Western Pure Land (the Buddhist paradise).

Myojoin Temple Main Hall

Goto

Myojoin Temple is the oldest temple in the Goto Islands. In 806, the Buddhist monk, Kukai (also known as Kobo Daishi), is said to have stayed in this temple on his way home to Japan from Tang China, where he saw the morning star, or myojo, shining in the eastern sky as an auspicious sign and gave the temple the name Myojo-an. It was the main temple of worship for generations of the Goto Clan, the head family of the Goto domain. The Main Hall was rebuilt in 1778, at which time, the coffered ceiling was adorned with 121 panels of richly colored paintings of flowers and birds painted by artists of the Kano school of painting.

Tomozuna Stone

Goto

This boulder, located in Shiraishi in Kishiku-cho, the last port of call of mission ships to Tang China, is said to be the stone to which these ships tied their mooring lines while in port for ship repairs, replenishment of food supplies, and to wait for the wind. In honor of the stone’s great work, in which the lives of the envoys to Tang were at stake, the locals built a small wayside shrine around the stone and prayed to it as a god of fisheries and maritime safety. Even today, the stone continues to be valued and protected by the local residents.

Michi-no-Eki Kentoshi Furusatokan

Goto

Exhibits of archives connected to the Japanese diplomatic missions to Tang China, and an introduction to Miiraku as it appears in poems in classical literature, such as the Manyoshu and Kagero Nikki. The Manyo Theater shows video about the China missions and the Manyoshu. This rest area also features a shop selling produce and specialty products of the Goto Islands, a seafood market, and a restaurant serving local dishes, so visitors can enjoy the food of the region.

o Opening hours: Shops 9:00 - 18:00; Restaurant: 11:30 – 14:00 o Closed: Year-end/New Year o Admission/Theater: General ¥310 (¥260): Children: ¥210 (¥150) * Fees in ( ) are discounts for groups of 15 or more o Parking available o Address: 3150-1 Hamanokuri, Miiraku-machi, Goto o Tel: 0959-84-3555 o Website: http://www.kentoushi-furusatokan.jp/

Goto Tourism and History Museum

Goto

The Goto Tourism and History Museum was built on the former site of Ishida Castle (Fukue Castle), Japan’s only coastal fortress built at the end of the Edo period for national defense. Visitors can learn all about the history and culture of the Goto Islands, including archeological artifacts from the archipelago, centering on Fukue Island, historical archives, art and craft artifacts, and about the nature, lifestyle and festivals of the islands.

o Opening hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing; closes at 18:00 in June-September) o Closed: Year-end/New Year (Dec 29 – Jan 3) o Admission: General ¥230 (¥190): High school and university students: ¥170 (¥140); Junior high school and elementary school students: ¥110 (¥90) *Fees in ( ) are discounts for groups of 20 or more o Parking available (20 cars) o Address: 1-4 Ikeda-machi, Goto o Tel: 0959-74-2300 o Website: http://www.city.goto.nagasaki.jp/contents/special/index059.php

Daihoji Temple

Goto

This temple is also called “Mount Koya of the West” because it is believed that Kukai returned from Tang dynasty China to preach esoteric Shingon Buddhism here. This temple is located in Tamanoura, in the westernmost part of Japan, and is close to China. The 5-storey pagoda and bonsho (Buddhist temple bell) that are kept here are listed as tangible cultural properties (city and prefectural, respectively), and tell the story of exchange between Kansai and continental Asia during the Nanboku-cho period.

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