[Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] Nakamura, Little Kyoto of Tosa

• Table of Contents
• What is Tosa's Little Kyoto?
• History of the Tosa Ichijo family
• Historic site where you can feel the Ichijo family
• Events and festivals that give you a feel of Little Kyoto

What is Tosa's Little Kyoto?

Approximately 550 years ago, in the wake of the Onin War, former Kanpaku Ichijo Norifusa moved to Nakamura (present-day Shimanto City) and settled there. Lord Ichijo laid the foundation for the establishment of shrines and temples and the development of the city area, named after Kyoto.

Lord Ichijo, who brought much culture from Kyoto, fostered local pride, and many place names and shrines associated with Kyoto remain, such as Gion, Kyomachi, Kamogawa, and Higashiyama. The Nakamura area of ​​Shimanto City is called ``Tosa's Little Kyoto'' because of the vibrant local culture that values ​​connections with Kyoto. The city area is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, and very few old buildings remain, but the grid-like divisions that were created from the medieval period to the early modern period still remain.

* Kanpaku is the highest-ranking court official who assists the Emperor.

A grid-shaped townscape

History of the Tosa Ichijo family

The Tosa Ichijo family began in 1468, when Norifusa Ichijo moved to his fief, Hata-sho (now Shimanto City) in the western part of Kochi Prefecture. The feudal lord directly managed the manor, controlled the logistics of the Shimanto River basin, and laid the foundations for the area to prosper as a trading center connecting Kyushu and Kansai.

It is said that Norifusa's son, Fusaya, did not return to Kyoto, but instead became a local lord and expanded Hata-sho, creating the heyday of the Tosa Ichijo clan.

After that, the Tosa Ichijo family ruled this area as a court noble daimyo for 106 years with Fufuyu, Fusaki, and Kanesada until they were chased out of Bungo by Motochika Chosokabe in 1574.

Ichijo Fufufuyu (portrait)

Tosa Ichijo family genealogy (106 years of Tosa Ichijo family)

Historic site where you can feel the Ichijo family

Tamahime's Tomb

Tamahime is the princess of Prince Fushiminomiya Kunitaka and the wife of Ichijo Fufufuyu. In 1521, he moved to Nakamura to marry his wife. In honor of Tamahime's marriage on June 22nd and August 22nd of her death, the local women's club of the shopping district has designated the 22nd of each month as Tamahime Day, and the festival is still popular among citizens.

Tamahime's Tomb

Tamahime-sama of the Tosa Ichijo Noble Parade Wisteria Festival held in May every year

Fuwa Hachiman Shrine

During the Bunmei era (1469-1487), the Ichijo clan inspected this shrine from Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto and made it the main guardian of Hata. The main shrine is the oldest shrine building in Kochi Prefecture that retains the architectural style of the Muromachi period, and is designated as a national important cultural property.

Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine, designated as a national important cultural property

The architectural style of the time is clearly visible. The roof is shingled

Ichijo Shrine

This shrine was built in 1862 on a plot of land said to be the ruins of the Nakamura Gosho by volunteers to remember the virtues of the Tosa Ichijo family, who devoted themselves to the development of Nakamura's culture and economy. In the precincts, there are historic sites related to the Ichijo clan, such as a makeup well and an unblooming wisteria.

Ichijo Shrine Main Hall

makeup well

Wisteria without blooming

Shimanto City Local Museum “Shirotto”

A castle-shaped museum built on a section of the Nakamura Castle ruins. From the castle tower-style building, you can see the Shimanto River, Higashiyama, and the entire city. In addition to the nature and culture of Shimanto City, we display valuable materials about the city's history, including the Tosa Ichijo family, the Nakamura Yamanouchi family, patriots at the end of the Edo period, and Shusui Kotoku, a socialist from Nakamura.

">

Shimanto City Local Museum "Shirotto" Open from 9:00 to 17:00 (Admission until 16:30) / Closed every Wednesday

Events and festivals that give you a feel of Little Kyoto

“ Tosa Ichijo Noble Procession Wisteria Festival (May) ,” “ Daimonji no Okuribi (July 16th according to the lunar calendar) ,” “ Fuwa Hachimangu Grand Festival (September) ,” “ Ichijo Grand Festival/Sacred Fire Dedication Procession (November) ,” etc. Events and festivals that give you a taste of Kyoto culture are held depending on the season.

Tosa Ichijo Noble Parade Wisteria Festival (May)

Daimonji no Okuribi (July 16th of the lunar calendar)

Fuwa Hachiman Shrine Festival (September)

The Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine Festival is a festival where the goddess of Masaki Ichijo Shrine and the male god of Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine get married.

Ichijo Grand Festival sacred fire offering procession (November)

If you would like to know more about Shimanto City, please refer to the information below.

Shimanto City Tourism Association official website: https://www.shimanto-kankou.com/

(Please feel free to contact us for any inquiries regarding tourism in Shimanto City or to send us pamphlets.)