Uryu is a quiet port town facing the Sea of Japan in Taisha Town, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. Located between Cape Hinomisaki to the west and the Ketakake Peninsula to the east, Uryu has long been known as a naturally sheltered harbor.
Although the surrounding Sea of Japan can be rough, the waters inside the bay are relatively calm. Since ancient times, ships have used the harbor to shelter from strong winds and wait for better sailing conditions.
Today, Uryu retains the peaceful atmosphere of a traditional fishing village while preserving traces of its history as a major trading port, its distinctive festival culture, and its spectacular coastline. It is not one of the area’s most heavily visited tourist destinations, which makes it an appealing place to experience a quieter and more authentic side of Izumo.
The history of Uryu Port goes back more than a thousand years. The Izumo Fudoki, compiled in 733, mentions the harbor under the name Ureho-no-Ura. The record states that approximately 20 ships could anchor there, demonstrating that the harbor already played an important role in ancient times.
The western coast of the Shimane Peninsula is exposed to powerful seasonal winds from the Sea of Japan during winter. Uryu, however, lies within an inlet surrounded by peninsulas and islands, providing natural protection from waves and strong winds.
Gongenjima Island, located just offshore from the harbor entrance, also acts as a natural breakwater. This favorable geography allowed Uryu to serve as a safe refuge for sailors since ancient times.
Thanks to these natural advantages, Uryu developed significantly from the Sengoku period through the Edo period and became one of the important ports of the San’in region.
During the Sengoku period, Uryu Port was under the control of the Amago clan and flourished as a shipping port for iron produced in the Izumo region.
Iron made through the traditional tatara ironmaking process in Okuizumo was renowned for its high quality. Uryu played an important role as a distribution center for this valuable resource.
Merchant ships from the Hokuriku region, Inaba, and Hoki are said to have entered the harbor, and ships arriving from the Asian continent were also reportedly seen here. Wholesalers and warehouses lined the port, and maritime commerce brought considerable wealth to the community.
At its height, Uryu was one of the most important international trading ports in the San’in region.
During the Edo period, Uryu Port became even more prosperous as a wind-waiting harbor for Kitamaebune. Kitamaebune were large merchant ships that sailed from Osaka along the Sea of Japan coast to Hokkaido, carrying goods such as rice, kelp, herring, and salt.
When weather conditions prevented them from continuing their journey, sailors stayed in Uryu while waiting for the winds to change. The port town developed businesses catering to these travelers, including shipping agents, inns, soba restaurants, and bathhouses.
These establishments created a lively maritime community, and Uryu became an important stopping point on the Kitamaebune trade routes.
Traces of the Kitamaebune era can still be found throughout the settlement. Around the harbor are traditional homes associated with former sailors’ inns and merchant families, including buildings that retain old yagō, or traditional family and business names, such as Kagaya and Higoya.
Rows of reddish-brown Sekishu roof tiles give the town a distinctive appearance. These durable tiles, traditionally produced in Shimane, were well suited to the cold and salty environment of the Sea of Japan coast.
Walking through the narrow lanes, stone steps, and sloping streets leading toward the sea can feel like stepping back into the era when Kitamaebune sailors moved through the town.
At Tachibana Port, east of Uryu, there was once a facility known as the Otesenagura, where official ships belonging to the Matsue Domain were stored. Only parts of the remains survive today, but they provide a glimpse of the scale of the former port facilities.
Gongenjima, the small uninhabited island offshore from Uryu Port, is one of the area’s most important landmarks. The island has long been regarded as sacred.
At its summit stands Kumano Shrine. Every year on the fifth day of the first month of the traditional lunar calendar, a ritual known as Mekari is performed to pray for an abundant harvest of wakame seaweed and safety at sea.
Priests and members of the local shrine community travel by boat to Gongenjima, where they harvest seaweed and offer it before the shrine. In the past, several boats were reportedly connected to create a temporary bridge, allowing the chief priest to cross the water and conduct the ritual.
Traditionally, local people were not permitted to harvest wakame until the Mekari ritual had been completed. This custom illustrates the close connection between religious traditions and the community’s fishing culture.
Gongenjima was also known for many years as an island where women were not permitted to enter. This tradition was lifted in the 2000s, and women can now visit the island and worship at the shrine.
The coastline around Uryu forms part of Daisen-Oki National Park. Volcanic activity approximately 16 million years ago created rhyolite and volcanic clastic rocks in the area. Over countless years, waves have eroded these formations into a remarkable coastal landscape.
The shoreline is characterized by islands of various sizes, sheer cliffs, sea caves, and unusual rock formations. Together, they create the dramatic scenery for which the Sea of Japan coast is known.
The coastline is especially beautiful around sunset. As the sun sinks into the Sea of Japan, the water turns shades of red and gold, while reefs and islands form striking silhouettes.
Because Uryu generally receives fewer visitors than major sightseeing destinations, travelers can enjoy these views in a peaceful atmosphere.
Owashi Beach is one of Uryu’s best-known coastal scenic areas. According to local tradition, it is said to be a beach where Susanoo-no-Mikoto once sat. The shore is covered with beautiful rounded stones and offers clear views across the water.
The sea is remarkably clear, and the beach becomes popular with swimmers during summer. Across the water, the Ketakake Peninsula rises dramatically, with cliffs and unusual rock formations extending along the coast.
The peninsula is also home to a cave known as Noro Cave. The passage runs through the peninsula from east to west and is large enough for a small boat to pass through.
Inside the cave, the air is cool and the clear seawater reflects the surrounding rock walls, creating a mysterious atmosphere. The cave was once said to be a popular place to escape the summer heat.
The waters extending eastward from the tip of Cape Hinomisaki are known as the Hinomisaki Underwater Park. The seabed features a variety of environments, including rocky areas, sandy bottoms, and underwater caves.
Forests of hondawara seaweed, arame, and wakame sway beneath the surface, providing shelter for a wide range of marine life. Fish such as striped beakfish, rockfish, and damselfish can be seen swimming among the seaweed.
From spring through autumn, glass-bottom boat tours operate in the area. Passengers can observe the underwater scenery through glass panels in the bottom of the boat.
The clear waters make this a memorable way to discover the marine environment without having to dive.
Uryu has preserved a number of distinctive folk traditions that have been passed down through generations. These customs reflect the community’s history as a maritime settlement.
Mindō is one of Uryu’s representative traditional events and takes place on the night of August 15. Participants pray for good health and protection from illness while chanting the distinctive call “Mindon ya!”.
The tradition is believed to have originated in folk beliefs associated with driving away epidemics and protecting the community from disease.
The Uryu Bon Odori is said to have been influenced by Bon dance traditions from the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions. Its distinctive rhythmic calls, including “Chitokosā” and “Yāhatosei”, give the dance a character unlike ordinary Bon dances.
The tradition also provides an example of how cultural influences traveled between distant coastal communities through the Kitamaebune trade network.
The Gakusha is a distinctive and colorful festival float used during local celebrations. It is carried by a large group of people and paraded through the town accompanied by music and performances.
More than 100 people are reportedly needed for a single offering procession, making it a major community event involving residents from across Uryu.
Fukushoji Temple, a Soto Zen Buddhist temple in Uryu, is home to a huge sago palm believed to be approximately 500 years old. The tree has been designated a National Natural Monument.
The temple is also associated with Isshi Maehara, a former samurai who became known as one of the leaders of the Hagi Rebellion, a samurai uprising during the Meiji period.
While fleeing after the rebellion, Maehara is said to have hidden in Uryu before eventually being captured. The temple preserves materials associated with him, including his farewell poem and personal belongings, making it an interesting destination for visitors interested in Japanese history.
The area around Uryu is home to a remarkable grove of Golden Mosō Bamboo, said to be the only naturally occurring habitat of this variety in Japan.
The bamboo has striking golden-colored stems and has been designated a Prefectural Natural Monument. The grove also contains rare varieties with silvery colors and unusual patterns, creating an almost dreamlike landscape.
Today, Uryu Port continues to serve as an important fishing harbor. The surrounding waters are regarded as one of the productive fishing grounds in Shimane, and pole-and-line fishing remains an important local practice.
Fish and seafood landed here include yellowtail, grunt, tilefish, and squid. Fresh seafood is one of the area’s most appealing local attractions.
Shops around the harbor also offer seafood and other local products, giving visitors opportunities to experience the flavors of this traditional coastal community.
Uryu is different from the major tourist destinations of the Izumo region. Rather than spectacular attractions crowded with visitors, its appeal lies in the quiet presence of history and nature.
The natural harbor recorded in an eighth-century historical text, the legacy of Kitamaebune trade, the traditions of a community that has lived with the sea, and the dramatic coastline of the Sea of Japan all remain part of Uryu today.
When visiting Izumo Taisha or Cape Hinomisaki, consider making a little extra time to explore Uryu. Walking through its historic lanes and quiet harbor reveals a side of Izumo that cannot easily be captured in a typical sightseeing brochure.
Here, the memories of centuries of maritime history remain quietly woven into everyday life, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sea of Japan.