Kaminoseki, town in Kumage district, Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan
Kaminoseki is a small town in Yamaguchi Prefecture located on the Murotsu Peninsula, almost completely surrounded by the Seto Inland Sea with several nearby islands. The streets are quiet, houses sit close to the water, and a modest harbor holds small boats used by local fishers.
During the Heian period, the site served as a checkpoint for trade and travel in the Seto Inland Sea, and later in the Edo period it became an important port for coastal ships called kitamaebune. The town received its current name in 1958 following a merger with neighboring villages.
The town remains deeply connected to fishing and the sea, with this relationship visible in how locals arrange their homes near the water and keep small boats at the harbor. Generations of families have lived here, creating a way of life where daily routines follow the natural rhythm of the tides and seasons.
The town has no train station of its own, but the nearest one at Yanai is roughly 20 kilometers away and accessible by car. Most places in the center are within walking distance, making it easy to explore at a relaxed pace.
The town was once linked to piracy, as Wokou raiders operated from here during the Muromachi period, attacking coasts in China and Korea. This dramatic past contrasts sharply with the peaceful, quiet character of today.
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