Tamashima, Historical port town in Kurashiki, Japan
Tamashima is an old merchant port in Kurashiki with preserved wooden warehouses and canals running through the waterfront district. The buildings and layout show how trading communities organized their work and homes directly along the water.
During the Edo period, Tamashima served as a trading port for the Matsuyama Domain with ships carrying goods throughout the region. The town developed because merchants built homes and warehouses to take advantage of the waterfront location.
The Entsuji Temple gained recognition when monk Ryokan practiced meditation there in 1781, establishing it as a center for Buddhist traditions.
Walk through the district to take in the canals and wooden buildings at your own pace, as this is the best way to appreciate the layout. Most shops and small museums are located close together, making it easy to move between them.
The Sabimi Beach in Tamashima's Kurosaki district opened in 1882 as Japan's first official swimming beach for public use.
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