There are so many charms that make it easy to get around! Short trip to explore Kuwana City Station -Part 2-

Part 2 starts!

Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture is located in the northernmost area of ​​Mie Prefecture, and is immediately adjacent to Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture.

When you think of sightseeing in Kuwana City, you probably come by car to Nagashima Spa Land with your family and friends.

After spending the day sightseeing at an amusement park or hot spring, why not stay overnight at an inn in the city and take a short trip to the facilities in front of Kuwana Station on a rental bicycle before returning the next day? This article is the second part.

Click here for the first part

We will mainly introduce the area in front of Kuwana Station!

Introducing the entire model course

When you arrive at Kuwana Station, first rent a bicycle at the Kuwana City Tourism Association. Go by bike!

*At the time of reporting for this article (October 2023), rental bicycles called ""Charichari"" were being set up in front of the station and various locations around the city for a one-week social experiment in conjunction with the Kuwana Jidai Festival, so there were many people using "Charichari". I did it! There are always bicycles available for rent at the tourist association, so please feel free to use them.

*We also visited some facilities as part of a demonstration experiment with Mayor Kuwana.

The model course looks like this. The theme was "quick" and "feel history".

That's all for the first part.The second part will be introduced here.

Introducing each spot!

Now, let me introduce the details of each spot in turn.

⑥Learn about the history of war at Kaizuka Park

After enjoying the clam dish mentioned in Part 5, it might be a good idea to take some time to relax and move on to Kaizuka Park, where you can think about the history of the Showa war.

Kaizuka Park is a park associated with Einosuke Kaizuka, the first mayor of Kuwana.
It is a calm park with a garden as its main feature, and there is also a `` Kuwana Air Raid Cenotaph ''.
The following record is written on the back of the cenotaph.

Kuwana Air Raid
In the early hours of July 17, 1945, the end of the Pacific War, 94 U.S. military B-29 bombers attacked Kuwana and dropped over 100,000 incendiary bombs. It was like a living hell, with the citizens screaming and screaming.
Furthermore, on July 24th, a B29 bomber dropped 818 one-ton bombs in broad daylight, resulting in the loss of many precious lives. (The amount of bombs dropped per area was 711 tons, the highest in Japan).
A monument will be erected in Kaizuka Park, which was bombed, in order to preserve the tragedy of this air raid for future generations, and to serve as a foundation to pass down the horror of war, which must never be repeated, for a long time.

The garden of Kaizuka Park. Although it is located in a residential area, it is a calm park overall.

Kuwana Air Raid Memorial Monument. It was erected to tell the story of the tragedy of air raids.

There is also a plaza and play area.

⑦ Go to Shichiri-no-Watari and think about the Tokaido

After leaving Kaizuka Park, we will return to the Edo period once again.
Let's head to the Shichiri no Watari ruins on the opposite bank of Kakinyasu Community Park.

The name "Shichiri no Watari" comes from the fact that the ship took a boat seven miles from Miya no Watari in Atsuta, which is now Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and arrived at Kuwana Watashi, Mie Prefecture, by boat. It is called.
Currently, Atsuta is connected to Kuwana by National Route 1, but back then it was a sea route. They came by boat from Aichi, arrived here, and headed for Ise by land again.

At that time, it was a bustling town as the 42nd post town on the Tokaido. The large torii gate here is called ``the best torii gate in Ise country'' because it enters the Ise Route, and is rebuilt every time Ise Grand Shrine is relocated.

The best torii gate in Ise province. It was rebuilt in time for the Shikinen Sengu of Ise Grand Shrine.

Stone monument marking Shichiri no Watashi

Contains an explanation of the 53 stations of the Tokaido.

Iseji Route runs from here to Ise Grand Shrine. Information board that makes you feel like it's Tokaido

There is also a pier around Shichiri no Watari, and you can feel strongly that this is an area where people live with rivers and water.

Near the Shichiri no Watari, there is Uta Andon Honten , which boasts a history of 145 years. We also recommend enjoying udon and clam dishes here. The city streets are well maintained and are a pleasant place to ride a bicycle.

Near the Shichiri no Watari, there is the main store of Uta Andon.

Clam dishes at Uta Andon

⑧At Rokkaen, we will take a look at the interaction between Britain and Japan in a different way.

Rokkaen is located near Shichiri no Watashi.
It has changed since the Edo period when it was known as Shichiri no Watari, and Rokkaen is a historical building where you can feel the Meiji and Taisho eras. This is the former Moroto Seiroku residence.

Rokkaen was designated as a national important cultural property in 1997 as a valuable cultural property, consisting of a Western-style building designed by Josiah Conder, a British architect famous for designing Rokumeikan, and a Japanese-style building with a strolling garden. designated as a property.
Additionally, the garden was designated as a national scenic spot in 2001.

You pay the entrance fee at the entrance to Rokkaen and go inside.
As you pass through the quiet and spacious passageway, you will immediately see a light blue Western-style building.

After paying the entrance fee, go to Rokkaen!

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Kuwana City acquired the land in 1991, and after maintenance work, opened it to the public under the name "Rokkaen" in 1993.

Although the Western-style building catches your eye, the entrance to this building is through the inner entrance building on the right, which has a Japanese atmosphere.
Once inside, you can go to either the Japanese or Western-style building.

This is the shape of the Japanese building side

A Japanese-style building with a relaxing space

View of the Japanese garden

This is the Western-style building side

You can also see a lot of historically old furniture from the West.

It's nice to see a Japanese garden from a Western-style building.

An appearance that makes you want to look at it forever

It has been so beautifully preserved that it is hard to believe that it is furniture with a deep history.

Just one light switch gives you a sense of the times.

Leather bag preserved from that time

The leather bag has the Moroto family name tag attached.

The garden seen from the sunroom on the second floor of the Western-style building. the sunshine is warm

After leaving the Western-style building, you will pass through the garden and see the outbuildings and Banzo building.

The outhouse has tatami flooring

A garden where you can feel the feeling of a Japanese house in the annex and surrounding area.

A brick wall that borders the waterway that flows between the Moroto Garden and the Moroto Garden.

A part of the garden that was also used as a photo spot for people wearing kimono

There is also a pond with calm water flowing through it.

Once you have finished touring the Western-style building, Japanese-style building, annex, and Banzo building, head back to the inner entrance building.
A large number of Kuwana's 1,000 cranes, which are intangible cultural assets of Kuwana City, are displayed here and can be purchased.

All of this is made from a single piece of paper. This is Kuwana's thousand paper cranes

There are many works lined up. You can buy what you like

You can purchase explanatory books, but you can also read samples.

There were also cute 1,000 paper cranes on the table.

You'll have more fun than you imagined while experiencing Rokkaen and the Meiji and Taisho eras. There are many locations perfect for taking photos, so it's also highly recommended for travel SNS.

⑨"Ice Manju" break at Sumiyoshiura rest facility

Finally, let's head to Sumiyoshiura Rest Facility to do some shopping and eat some ice cream manju.

Ice Manju is a popsicle made of azuki beans coated in milk, and there are three famous stores in Kuwana City .
You can eat Maruman's ice cream manju at the Sumiyoshiura rest facility.

Souvenir corner at rest facility

You can buy Maruman's ice cream manju

It might be fun to go on a tour of ice cream buns in the summer! Ice Manju feature article

I returned to Kuwana Station and that was it!

After taking a break for an ice cream bun, we returned from the Ibigawa area to Kuwana Station, completing the short trip.

The time will vary depending on the tour time and whether meals are included, but since the travel distance is short, you can combine the places you like and spend half a day to a full day.

By renting a bicycle and visiting each facility from the station, you can save time while enjoying the cityscape, atmosphere, and riverside atmosphere. You can enjoy new ways of enjoying things that you can't get by driving or walking.

The surrounding townscape retains the feel of the Tokaido/Edo period, and the best way to enjoy it is by bicycle.