Esashi Ancient History Story Guide TourNow Accepting Participants
This approximately 120-minute guided tour lets you step into the shoes of a merchant from that era
to experience the history of Esashi—a town that prospered through the herring trade carried out by Kitamae ships—and the daily lives of its townspeople.
Load herring into a “mocco” (a traditional carrying box), walk along the ancient highway lined with historic buildings,
and experience unloading the cargo at the former Nakamura Family Residence.
You’ll learn about the work and culture of the people who supported Esashi’s prosperity by seeing, touching, and experiencing it firsthand.
Highlights! 3 Special Experiences
Hands-On Experience: Designing an Original Shop Name for a “Mokko” Herring Carrier
A “trade name” is a symbol used to identify a household or its tools.
Let’s try drawing your very own original trade name while imagining what Esashi was like back then.
Experience a Stroll Along the Ancient Highway While Carrying a “Mokko”
During the era when Esashi prospered from the herring fishery, people used a type of backpack called a “mocco” to carry herring.
Let’s put on a “mocco” and take a walk while imagining ourselves as residents of Esashi.
Carry a Herring Model and Experience the “Mokko” Tradition
The practice of carrying herring on one’s back to a herring storage facility in exchange for a payment in kind is called “morai-mocco,” and during the guided tour, you’ll have the chance to experience a simulated version of this activity.
