Shimōsa Kogane Nakano Pasture, Historical pasture site in Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Shimōsa Kogane Nakano Pasture is a historical horse breeding site spanning several cities in Chiba Prefecture, including Kashiwa, Matsudo, Kamagaya, Shiroi, and Funabashi. The location preserves earthen walls and specialized horse capture facilities that together cover roughly 7,000 square meters.
From 1604 onward, the pasture served as a crucial military horse breeding ground under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. The site was essential to supplying mounted forces for the shogunal regime.
The yearly wild horse catching events drew spectators from surrounding regions and were depicted in traditional Japanese artwork. These gatherings held special meaning for local communities and became part of the area's artistic heritage.
The site is accessible to visitors and guided tours offer the best way to explore the preserved structures. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the location spreads across a large area and involves walking.
The site managed wild horses that roamed freely on plateaus and were gathered just once yearly through specialized capture areas. This method, called tokkome, was one of few such practices in feudal Japan and reveals the ingenuity behind this historical location.
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