Things to See
Takashima and Kuroshima
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Site of Takashima Naval Lookout
The Hirado domain built this guardhouse on Takashima in 1640. Coming after the introduction of the Tokugawa shogunate’s national seclusion policy, its role was to detect foreign ships and immediately report their presence. Five muskets were kept at the ready in the guardhouse for emergencies.
A nagaya (long house for low-ranking samurai), which was part of the Takebe mansion, still exists today.
Miyanomoto Remains
The Miyanomoto remains date from 6,000 years ago and span the Jōmon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods (13,000 BCE–538 CE).
The ruins from the Yayoi period (300 BCE–250 CE) are of an impressive scale (60 meters east to west and 260 meters south to north), and the bones of more than 40 people were discovered in the cemetery. Farmers in the area occasionally come across human bones when plowing their fields. Traditionally, they are regarded as the remains of people exiled to the island. The islanders gather them in one place and venerate them as o-kotsu-sama.
Other Sites of Historic Interest
Shiga Shrine: Features a monument to a whale washed ashore in the Taisho era (1912–1926)
Bandake: Originally this is where the guards of the naval lookout lit their signal fires. You can see the base of a gun battery from World War II.