Sado-ga-shima island [Niigata]
The hamlet of Shukunegi
| Places | Shukunegi, Ogi-machi, Sado-gun, Niigata |
|---|---|
| Access | Ogi Port/Bus/10-min. ride |
The hamlet of Shukunegi is located at Ogi-machi on the island of Sado-ga-shima in the Sea of Japan, and is part of Niigata Prefecture. There are now just over 100 simple houses clustered together in the small inlet. The hamlet began as a port town in around the 13th century, and grew rapidly from around the 17th century, with increased shipping in the Sea of Japan. All over Shukunegi visitors will find vestiges of these earlier days. The homes of ship owners built on fortunes made in trading are open to the public. Pillars and fittings in these houses are lacquered in red. Living rooms have high ceilings and ornate household altars. An example of the largest type of ship or Sengoku-bune (a junk able to hold 1,000 koku of rice) used in those days has been restored and is on display to the public. This ship was based on drawings of Sengoku-bune built in Shukunegi in 1776.
