Hamasaki Traditional District

Hamasaki was the port of Hagi Castle Town and a regular stop for kitamaebune merchant ships running between Osaka and Hokkaido. Over 100 buildings from the Edo and Meiji periods survive here, 44 predating 1868, making this one of the most intact historic port districts in western Japan. The only surviving tile-roofed stone boathouse in Japan stands on the main street, now inland after land reclamation shifted the waterfront. One merchant residence belonged to Umeya Shichibei, who smuggled 1,000 guns from Shanghai to Choshu domain in the final years of the Edo period. Tourist information is available at the Former Yamamura Family Residence.