Tobishimakaido with Sannose Cobblestone walking area

During the Edo period (1603-1868), Shimo-Kamagari Island flourished as a port of call for Korean envoys and feudal lords on their way to the capital. Wooden museums and art galleries are scattered along the stone-paved streets. The peaceful island scenery and historical streets are perfect for a stroll.

Shotoen has four museums, each of which is a relocated or recreated historical building, and exhibits and displays valuable materials such as a picture scroll depicting a fleet of Korean envoys to Japan, which was registered as a Memory of the World by UNESCO in 2017. The circular garden with the Seto Inland Sea as its background is also beautiful and a good spot for photography. If you want to see Shotoen from above, visit the Rantoukaku Art Museum Annex on the hill. The permanent exhibition of works by Terauchi Manjiro, a Western-style painter, and the panoramic view of Shotoen, the islands and bridges of the Seto Inland Sea are a must-see.

Other facilities include the Sannose Gohonjin Art and Culture Museum, which is a reconstruction of the exterior of the Honjin, where feudal lords stayed during the Edo period; the Rantoukaku Museum of Art, with its eye-catching authentic wooden architecture; the Hakusetsurou, where you can enjoy a cup of green tea while enjoying the garden; and the Insect House, that exhibits insects that live in Shimokamagari. You can enjoy strolling around while feeling the tranquil scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.