～Only possi ble here～
Esashi :A Living History and
Cultural Experience Tour
―shaped b y t he K itamae-bune trade a nd K amome I sland.
at The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House
at The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House
Esashi Inishie
Story Guided Tour
During the Edo period, Esashi flourished through the herring trade carried by Kitamaebune merchant ships. This guided tour offers participants the chance to step into the shoes of townspeople of that era and experience their work and daily lives firsthand.
The tour begins at a facility that introduces the story of Esashi as a Japan Heritage site, where participants learn about the town’s history and culture through Esashi folding screens and exhibition panels. Participants then actually carry a traditional wooden backpack container called a mokko, once used to transport herring, load it with wooden herring replicas, and walk along the historic Inishie Kaidō road to the Former Nakamura Residence, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.
At the unloading storehouse known as the Hanedashi, participants unload the herring and receive a banbō, a wooden token that served as proof of work in those days. Presenting this token allows participants to enjoy services at facilities around the town. The tour also includes painting a shop name (yagō) to mark ownership of the mokko and experiencing a weight close to that of the real loads used in the past.
This approximately 100-minute journey allows visitors to relive the history and prosperity of Esashi through its historic streetscape.
Esashi Town Kaisho Hall
- Introduction to Esashi’s Japan Heritage story
- Original yagō (shop name) painting experience
- Wearing a traditional hanten coat and carrying a wooden backpack
Stroll along the Inishie Kaidō (Historic Road)
- Ubagami Daijingu Shrine
- Yokoyama House
- Float storage site
Ichiban-gura Storehouse
- Herring transport experience using herring replicas
Stroll along the Inishie Kaidō (Historic Road)
- Mokko carrying experience at ‘The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House , a Nationally,’
Esashi Town Kaisho Hall
Highlights! Experience Details
Wearing a traditional hanten coat and carrying a wooden backpack
A yagō is a symbol used to identify a household or its tools. While imagining scenes from Esashi during its prosperous past, create and paint your own original yagō.
Walking the Inishie Kaidō While Carrying a “Mokko”
During the height of the herring fishery, people in Esashi used a backpack-style carrier called a mokko to transport herring. Shoulder a mokko and take a walk along the historic Inishie Kaidō, stepping into the role of an Esashi townsperson.
“Morai Mokko” Experience Carrying Herring Replicas
Morai mokko refers to the practice in which herring carriers transported herring to storage warehouses and received herring as payment in kind. During the guided tour, participants can enjoy a simulated morai mokko experience by carrying herring replicas.
| Meeting Point | Esashi Town Kaisho Hall |
| Event Period | Year-Round |
| Experience Duration | ① 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ② 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM |
| Meeting Time | Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the experience starts. |
| Experience Fee | 2 people: ¥10,000, 3 people: ¥15,000, 4 people: ¥20,000, 5 people: ¥25,000, 6 people: ¥30,000 |
| Minimum number of participants required | 2 people |
| Minimum number of applicants | 2 people |
| Maximum number of applicants | 6 people |
| Reservation deadline | Up to 5 days in advance ※Please note that we may still be able to accommodate requests after this period, so feel free to contact us. |
| Remarks | ・The event will be held rain or shine. It will be canceled in case of severe weather, such as when warnings or advisories are issued. In the event of cancellation, we will notify you at least 3 days before the start date. ・Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking. ・Parking: 5 spaces available (including 1 space reserved for people with disabilities) ※If the parking lot is full, please use the Esashi Oiwake Hall parking lot (3-minute walk). |
Esashi Oiwake & Local Cuisine Experience
at The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House
This is a special, once-a-month experience tour where you can enjoy Esashi’s local cuisine and live performances of Esashi Oiwake at The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House , a Nationally, designated Important Cultural Property that is usually not open for private use.
Guided by a knowledgeable guide, you will first learn about the history and culture of Esashi Town. Then, on the second floor of The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House , a
Nationally,, you can slowly savor local dishes prepared specially for the day, including herring cuisine. To complete the experience, enjoy live performances of Esashi Oiwake, one of Japan’s three major folk songs, performed by three musicians on vocals, shakuhachi (bamboo flute), and shamisen.
In the special tatami room where important business negotiations once took place, immerse yourself in the history and culture of Esashi while savoring this unique and memorable moment.
Esashi Town Kaisho Hall
- Introduction to Esashi’s Japan Heritage story
The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House , a Nationally,– 1st Floor
- Introduction to Esashi merchant houses
The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House , a Nationally, – 2nd Floor
- Enjoy local dishes centered on herring
- Watch Esashi Oiwake performance / After the experience, the space can be privately used for up to 120 minutes
For those who applied for options
Esashi Oiwake Hall
- Kimono dressing experience
Highlights! Experience Details
Savor Esashi’s local cuisine, normally unavailable
Local mothers in Esashi specially prepare traditional herring dishes passed down through generations—such as Sanpei-jiru (herring soup), simmered herring, and other home-style dishes—exclusively for tour participants.
Live performance of Esashi Oiwake, a folk song from the herring trade era
Esashi Oiwake is said to “captivate you at first listen, intoxicate you the second time, and move you to tears the third time.” Enjoy this enchanting folk song performed live by three musicians on vocals, shakuhachi (bamboo flute), and shamisen.
Private stay in a special tatami room where important business was once conducted
The tatami room of The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House , a Nationally, where you enjoy the local cuisine and Esashi Oiwake, is a special space that is usually not available for private use. After the experience, you may relax freely in this room for up to 2 hours.
| Meeting Point | Esashi Town Kaisho Hall |
| Event Period | Year-Round |
| Experience Duration | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Meeting Time | Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the experience starts. |
| Experience Fee | 2 people: ¥90,000, 3 people: ¥120,000, 4 people: ¥140,000, 5 people: ¥150,000 |
| Minimum number of participants required | 2 people |
| Minimum number of applicants | 2 people |
| Maximum number of applicants | 5 people |
| Reservation deadline | Up to 14 days in advance ※Please note that we may still be able to accommodate requests after this period, so feel free to contact us. |
| Remarks | ・The event will be held rain or shine. It will be canceled in case of severe weather, such as when warnings or advisories are issued. In the event of cancellation, we will notify you at least 3 days before the start date. ・Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking. ・Parking: 5 spaces available (including 1 space reserved for people with disabilities) ※If the parking lot is full, please use the Esashi Oiwake Hall parking lot (3-minute walk). |
Experience a n E sashi merchant b anquet
―shaped b y t he K itamae-bune trade a nd K amome I sland.
This special guided tour lets you experience Esashi’s local cuisine, live performances, and live dances of Esashi Oiwake, recreating the “banquets of Esashi merchants” documented in Edo-period guidebooks and the Esashi folding screens.
First, a guide introduces you to the history and culture of Esashi Town. You can immerse yourself as a townsman of the past, experiencing herring trade tasks such as carrying a mokko (traditional basket). The tour then moves to Kamome Island, a site associated with
Esashi merchants where Kitamae ships once docked, to relive the festive banquets of that era.
While savoring local dishes, enjoy performances of Esashi Oiwake, one of Japan’s three major folk songs, along with Esashi Oiwake dances, performed live by vocalists, shakuhachi (bamboo flute), shamisen, and dancers. This luxurious experience allows you to enjoy the history and culture of Esashi with all five senses.
Esashi Town Kaisho Hall
- Introduction to Esashi’s Japan Heritage story
- Original yagō (shop name) painting experience
- Wearing a traditional hanten coat and carrying a wooden backpack
Stroll along the Inishie Kaidō (Historic Road)
- Ubagami Daijingu Shrine
- Yokoyama House
- Float storage site
Ichiban-gura Storehouse
- Herring transport experience using herring replicas
Stroll along the Inishie Kaidō (Historic Road)
Kamome Island
- Experience carrying a mokko (traditional basket) in front of the former temple school
- Enjoy local herring-based dishes and watch live performances of Esashi Oiwake and Esashi
Oiwake dance at the banquet
| Meeting Point | Esashi Town Kaisho Hall |
| Event Period | May-September |
| Experience Duration | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM |
| Meeting Time | Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the experience starts. |
| Experience Fee | 3 people: ¥150,000, 4 people: ¥180,000, 5 people: ¥200,000, 6 people: ¥225,000, 7 people: ¥245,000, 8 people: ¥280,000, 9 people: ¥315,000 |
| Minimum number of participants required | 3 people |
| Minimum number of applicants | 3 people |
| Maximum number of applicants | 9 people |
| Reservation deadline | Up to 14 days in advance ※Please note that we may still be able to accommodate requests after this period, so feel free to contact us. |
| Remarks | ・If the weather forecast predicts rain or winds over 5 m/s, the tour will be rescheduled to “Esashi Ancient Story Guide” × The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House, where you can experience Esashi Oiwake and local cuisine, reflecting the culture nurtured by the Kitamae ships. ・The tour will be canceled in case of severe weather, such as when warnings or advisories are issued. In such cases, we will notify you at least 3 days before the start date. ・Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking. ・Parking: 5 spaces available (including 1 space reserved for people with disabilities) ※If the parking lot is full, please use the Esashi Oiwake Hall parking lot (3-minute walk). |
