Former Japan Monopoly Corporation Ako Branch Office (Ako Salt Bureau) Office

Prefectural-designated Structure. The office for the Ako Salt Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Finance was constructed as a Western-style office building in 1873. It showcases the important heritage of Japan’s modern salt policy.

Ako Castle Ruins

Nationally-designated historic site. A castle built by Asano Naganao in 1661. The Ako Clan reclaimed a vast amount of seaside to the east and west of this castle for its use as irihama-method salt fields. The castle and castle town grew thanks to the enormous profits from the local salt production.

Ako’s Salt-making Equipment

Nationally-designated Tangible Cultural Property. This material collection includes 237 items, such as salt-making tools used in the salt fields, management & distribution-related materials, tools related to daily life, archives, and more. It is an important resource for our knowledge about the labor and management of the irihama-method salt fields.

Ako Marine Science Museum

Located on the former site of Higashihama Salt Field. The Science Museum exhibits materials related to both the marine science and the salt of the Seto Inland Sea. A portion of the old water channel still exists today just outside the museum. Production methods from each era have been restored, from the salt fields to the boil-down rooms, so you can experience how salt production worked.

The streets of Shioya

As the center of Nishihama Salt Field, this salt industry village flourished along the Bizen Highway. The blocks and road are well preserved.

Ako Hachimangu Shishimai (lion dance)

Prefectural-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Shishimai is one of the tradtional japanese performing art. This lion dance serves as the outrider for the portable shrine at the festival of the Ako Hachimangu Shrine. The first record of this dance appeared in 1662 and the tradition has been handed down by young men working in the salt fields.

Sakoshi Ship Festival

At Oosake Shrine’s grand autumn festival, eleven Japanese-style ships used for this religious festival transfer the sacred palanquin from the shrine at the base of the mountain to the holy Ikushima Island. In the past, the festival was supported economically by cargo vessel trading companies that prospered in industries like salt shipping and the crew of these light vessels were used as the festival’s ships’ rowers. As such, this tradition was handed down with the prospering cargo vessel industry.