HISTORICAL SITES

Hamada Castle was built in 1620, and destroyed during the violence that surrounded the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate.Now, shrouded in thickets and old stone walls, it poignantly recalls a by-gone era.The moss-covered ruins are a great place for a walk, and in the spring it is famous for the beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom in its grounds.

The ideal spot for those wishing a commanding view of Hamada Fishing Port.  Kites dance wildly under your eyes and the great fishing boats throng below.Also, there is a Monument to the passionate woman whose name, Ohatsu, became the title of a famous Kabuki play.

In the late 1830's, during the age of national isolation, Aizawa Hachiemon bravely plotted to rescue Hamada's destitute finances through forbidden foreign trade.This monument commemorates his distinguished services.

The Iwami-Kokubunji temple is believed to have been built in the late 8th century, although today only the great foundation stones of its tower remain.
Also nearby lay the ruins of the temple’s tile kiln and those of the Kokubunji nunnery.The ruins create a scene that gives the viewer a keen sense of times long gone.

Commonly known as the "Nagarebotoke", these 59 Buddha statues are located in the main hall of the ancient Tadaji temple of the Buddhist Shingon sect. It is believed that they date from somewhere between the mid 10th and late 11th centuries.Also on the temple grounds is a giant camphor tree which is designated as a Municipal Natural Treasure, and in March one of the Iwami area’s three great festivals, the famous Hatsu-uma Festival takes place here.

The principal image of Buddha in the Shinkakuin temple of the Jodo sect, this is an Annami style statue carved from a single block of wood. It dates from around 1255 and is a work typical of that time.

A keyhole shape tomb, 66 metres in length, estimated to date from about the 5th century.