The Origin of the Momen-Kaido
PAST
Hirata-cho, Izumo City, located in the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture.
Blessed with Lake Shinji to the east and the Funagawa River and other waterways running through it from east to west, this area has long been used as a market town for transporting goods for merchants.
In particular, from the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period, “Hirata Cotton” was highly regarded in Osaka and Kyoto as a high-quality cotton, and began to be traded far away.
After that, the area around Funakawa developed into a bustling market town with many ships coming and going as a distribution center for cotton. Many merchant houses lined the streets, supporting the prosperity of the town.
The areas around Shinmachi, Kataharamachi, and Miyanomachi adjacent to Funakawa were used as routes for distributing cotton, and came to be known as the “Momen-Kaido.”
As railways and other transportation developed, the Momen Kaido gradually fell out of use, but the buildings of old houses and merchants such as sake and soy sauce storehouses remain, evoking the bustle of the area at the time and conveying the atmosphere of the old downtown area to this day.
As you walk through the town, you’ll notice the two-story townhouses with their black roof tiles, namako walls, and lattice windows, which are unique to Hirata.
Today, the Momen Kaido, where the old townscape and modern life blend together in perfect harmony, has become a precious place where you can enjoy a gentle and relaxing atmosphere.
The Momen Kaido is beloved by locals and hosts a variety of events, including concerts at sake breweries, flea markets, galleries, and rice cake pounding.
THE CURRENT
