Sightseeing Spots

In general, noted places and historic spots are introduced in sightseeing, however, we, Kedogawa Club, are thinking that primary and secondary indus-tries are also tourist resources. We introduce to you the sightseeing spots with abundant varieties in Makurazaki.

① Dried Bonito Processing Factory

There are 57 dried bonito processing factories in the city, where about 1,000 people are working and their outputs are 15,400 tons a year. Qualities and total outputs of these factories are the top in Japan.
‘Hon-Gare-Bushi’,which is one of many kinds of dri-ed bonito, is the best quality.It takes about 6months to make the ‘Hon-Gare-Bushi’. A lot ofprocess and days are necessary to make dried bonito with good quality.

Factories you can visit (Available on holidays; Please call to the factory beforehand)
 1) Hisanori Chaya’s(Sakuragi-cho)　℡72-2654
 2)Agemura’s (Asahi-machi)　 ℡72-0484

② Makurazaki Port

The catch of fish ofMakurazaki port is110,000 tons a year and the 8th in the whole country. Makurazaki port wasspecified for one of13nationwide and important fishing ports in 1962.　Fishes captured in the neighboring sea are landed in the central quay, where the auction is held 2 times in the morning and afternoon. You can see the auction, if you want. (7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.)
 
 You can also see the unloading of frozen bonito in the outport.
 

③ Matsuno-o Park

There is a bust of Mr. Ko Hara called as the father of modern bonito fishery. He voluntarily boarded the wooden power ship of 91 tons in 1924, and deve-loped a bonito fishery to Indonesia. He died of mali-gnant malaria in Indonesia in 1932. There is acopperplate for praising the jobs of Mr. Ko Hara written by Mr. Soho Tokutomi,who was the president of koku-min Shimbunand lamented he death of Mr. Hara.
 

④ Takamori Saigo and Makurazaki

Takamori Saigo, who was one of the key persons of Meiji Restoration in 1867, landed on Makurazaki port on the way in return from Amami Oshima. He stayed in the residence of port official Mr. Seiemon Tateshi and departed for Kagoshima following day.

 

⑤Mark of the Residence of Mr.Seiemon Tateshi

The display panel is put up in the mark of residence whereTakamori Saigo stayed. 

⑥ Hinokami Park & Observatoly for prayer of peace

The grand spectacle from Hinokami Park is the most beautiful in Satsuma-
Peninsula.Tategami-Rock, which is located in the sea and 42 meters in height, is the landmark of Maku -razaki. This park is familier as the place to relax for residents and popular with fishing and camp.

( Observatoly for prayer of peace)
  
The Battleship Yamato and its crew of 3,721 are enshri-ned. They were killed and
 sunk in the action on April 7,1945 in offing of 200km from here. The memorial service is held on April 7 every year, and many people come to pray from the whole country.
 (The English guide book is lent free of charge)

⑦ Meiji Warehouse (Kedogawa Distillation Place of Satsuma Brewing Co, Ltd.)


The Meiji Warehouse is used as a material pavilion where the tradition of the
real shochu-making is told. You can see the ma-nufacturing process of the shochu here.Person who want the guide can hear various stories on the history of shochu and the food culture. Moreover you can taste shochu made from various sweet potatoes and original shochu of Meiji Warehouse. Local brand beer is also recommended in the restaurant ‘Beer House Kedogawa’.

⑧Cultural Material Center Nanmeikan 

There is a permanent ex-hibition space where the works of artists related to
hometown are mainly ex-hibited. Nanmeikan is located on the hill in the west side of Makurazaki Station. The view of the East China Sea from thegarden with wavy benches is the most beautiful.

⑨ Stone Fence of the Residence of Mr. Nakamura

His stone fence is built with lava that erupted in ancient times. There were a lot of factories of dried bonito in this area until 1945.however, almost of them were burnt in massed airattack at the end of July, 1945. This residence of Mr.Nakamura is a real stone fence structure restoredafter the 2nd world war. It is the one to recall the
prosperities in old times.

 Compilation;Sightseeing Volunteer Guide "Kedogawa Club"
Materials; The history of Makurazaki City, Mr. Maesako, Mr. Takeichi Toki
English Translation ; M. Nakamura