There once was Toko-ji Temple where the monk Sesshu, who was invited by Masuda Kanetaka, stayed in Masuda from 1479 and drew a picture of Masuda Kanetaka (National important cultural property).

Toko-ji Temple was burned down in 1580 and Taikian was built in 1702 by Taiki Shoshuku who grieved of the devastated state of Toko-ji Temple.

There is also a grave of Sesshu (Historical site of Masuda City) adjacent to the hermitage.

Originally built as Mino district office in 1921, later used as a public office and then a police station before it became the municipal museum of history and folklore in 1983. It is a single-story wooden building, with tiled roof, space of the building is 248 square meters.

A carriage porch at the centre with Japanese-style gabled wings on both sides makes a typical early-20C public building.

The Nakahara family once brewed a sake “Kinkan Shiragiku” from subterranean water of the Masuda river. Located at the old town centre, this old house blends in nicely with the scenery.

Though the brewery is not in operation, this 19th century built shop and its cellar beautifully remains in their original state.

In 1602, the Masuda clan moved out to Susa of Nagato province as their liege Mori domain had thier fief reduced by Tokugawa shogunate.

Grieved over the glooming prospect of the city, Migita Somi started a brewery Migita Honten along with opening a market 6 days a month.

Now it has become the oldest brewery in Shimane in operation.
Using subterranean water of the Masuda river, they brew their famous “Somi” and recently revived 16th century style sake “Yozaemon”.

A guided cellar tour by its owner is available. (reservation required)

It is located where the Takatsu River used to run.
They still use a lot of subsoil water from the river to wash, soak and brew the rice.

The river water is soft with little minerals and has been repeatedly nominated as the purest river water.

The brewery, established in 1903, produces brands such as Fusozuru and Takatsugawa.

Stone monuments in the precincts , including an eye-catching 13-storied stone pagoda (Intangible cultural property of Shimane) built during the Kamakura period (1185 – 1333), were the fruits of trade from the Sea of Japan.

Granite stones of five-storied pagoda were likely to be from Hyogo prefecture and stones of a stupa were from Fukui prefecture.

Fukuo-ji Temple is considered to have played an important role in these trades, as highly literate monks were commonly engaged in trade at the time.

Recent excavation work indicates Nakazu port town started to develop from areas near the precincts of Fukuo-ji Temple.

Myogi-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple of the Soto sect, is said to have been erected by Kaneie, the 13th lord of Masuda, and was considered one of the core religious facilities in Masuda.

In 1581 it was rebuilt by the 19th lord Fujikane and the 20th lord Motoyoshi and functioned as the main Temple of the Soto sect in this area.
Within the Temple’s premises, there is a five-storied pagoda which was said to be the graves of Fujikane and Motoyoshi.

Many Buddhist statues and documents preserved by the Temple are also part of the historical heritage the Masuda clan left in the city.

People now visits here for some cultural experiences such as Zen meditation or music recitals, or to simply enjoy flowers in the garden.

A small but straight path from the Temple, heading north via a small stone bridge, was used as the base line when they started building the town.

Kyo-on-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple of the Jodo sect, was established in 1543 and was moved in 1601 to the present location, where the residence of the Mashino clan, chief retainers of the Masuda clan, stood.

There was a Kagimagari chicane at the corner of the Kyo-on-ji Temple, which is one of the protective features widely seen in many castle towns.

The double bend disappeared when they widened the road, but you can see its original shape in coloured pavements.

The view of the gate and bell tower against the background of Mt. Nanao makes a great landmark of the castle town.
Walking down the nearby area, people can find many samurai period features; old houses with Kagimagari chicane and street names of samurai times origin.

It is a Buddhist temple of the Jodo Shinshu sect. It has been located at the centre of Miyake Odoi Ruins Site from late-16C.

Its origin is said to be an Amitabha temple for forebears of the clan then Onimura (or Kimura) Sukemitsu and some followers of the clan refurbished it when the Masuda clan left the city after 1600.

The temple was moved 500m west of Miyake Odoi Ruins Site after the Masuda clan’s residence was registered as a national historic site in 2004. “The Buddha and his 16 deities (on silk)”, a temple’s treasure passed down from Shotatsu-ji Temple, shows high cultural standard of old Masuda.

The Manpuku-ji Temple was erected by Masuda Kanemi, the 11th lord of the Masuda clan in 1374.

Its main hall shows Kamakura period style and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Its garden has also been designated as a National Historic Site and Scenic beauty and is believed to have been designed by a famous Zen monk Sesshu.

The Temple also has many artefacts including Buddhist statues and pictures, portraits of the lords of the Masuda clan and a coloured Chinese earthenware brought by trade with Southeast Asian countries; all of which are the great evidence of the cultural standard of Masuda.

Iko-ji Temple was a sub Temple of Sukan-ji Temple, which the Masuda clan had specially worshipped and protected but later somehow deteriorated.

The 17th lord Munekane reconstructed Iko-ji Temple as a successive temple to Sukan-ji Temple. Its garden has been designated as National Historic Site and Scenic beauty and is believed to have been designed by a famous Zen monk, Sesshu.

The garden has a turtle-shaped island in a crane-shaped pond which can be appreciated by either walking around or viewed from the main hall. The entrance gate is said to be the gate removed from the Nanao Castle. The Kaisando hall has many Buddhist statues made in Nanbokucho and Muromachi period (1337-1603).

This is one of the shrines patronized by the Masuda clan.
The main hall was built in 18C with materials reused from the former shrine built in 1584.

The history of this shrine dates further back and its name is found in Engishiki Jimmyocho (927), a list of shrines in Japan. Also, Sogyo Shinzazo, a statue of Shinto deity in Buddhist monk dress, is believed to have been made in 11C.
Three rituals of the shrine, Harihiroi, Sumo and Shishimai are ethnologically important. Back of the precincts of the shrine is an ideal spot to look over the Masuda Plain to grasp the development of this port town from geographical point.

The Nanao Castle was the main fort of the Masuda clan. Located on the ridge of Mt. Nanao, the main keep stands 118m above from sea level.

This Y-shaped fort overlooks the Masuda Plain and further to the Sea of Japan.
The large scale mountain castle consisted of over 40 fortified points called kuruwa and protective ridges and moats.

The castle first appeared in documents around the Nanbokucho period (1337 – 1392), though there are various opinions on when it was first constructed.

It is believed to have been built as a small fortress for a start, then gradually expanded its size until the entire mountain was fortified by the end of 16th century.
Fujikane, the 19th lord of the Masuda clan was the last resident ruler of the castle.
He is said to have made some improvement to the castle to prepare against the Mori clan of Hiroshima.

Sumiyoshi-Jinja Shrine, sitting on the side of the castle hill, was originally erected within Myogi-ji Temple and later moved to the present location.

The shrine is said to have been founded in 725. The Masuda clan also paid special worship to this shrine and called it as a core shrine of the area.

The main hall inner shrine was burned down in 1581 and rebuilt by the 20th lord Motoyoshi in 1583. The main hall has been nationally designated as an Important Cultural Property.
It has the Sangensha Nagarezukuri (4 pillars in front with a warped gable roof)style with cypress bark roof against vermilion coloured beams.

The building style, its carvings and decorations are commonly found in the Momoyama period architecture. Within the shrine sanctuary, there is a Kagura hall and a holly precipice made with a giant rock.

The ancestor of the Masuda clan was in Kamiko area in Hamada city under the name of Mikamoto.

Among the Mikamotos, a branch of them moved to Masuda area and named themselves the Masudas. This shrine is considered to be a proof that the Masudas were based in Higashi Sendo in 14C.
The family precepts written by Masuda Kanemi in 1383 say his grandfather enshrined Mikamoto Daimyojin, the Mikamoto’s clan deity, to Higashi Sendo.

Many ceramics made in China were found from the ruins in Higashi Sendo area, which also suggests this area was their headquarters then.

The Masuda Plain in the 13-16C had a natural port as a sandbank made a lagoon at the mouth of Masuda River.

The Nakazu Higashihara Ruins Site was located at the estuary at the time.
There was a sand dune in the north of the ruins and in the south there was a landing place covered with gravels.
A building structure with earth-fast posts, a forge and roads were also found here.

The port started to develop from 12C and its peak was 14 – 16C.
Ceramics made in China, Japan, Korea and Thai were found.
Ancient documents such as “Masudake Monjo”(Masuda clan archives) shows the Masuda clan were deeply involved in the trades.

It is a significant ruin to study how a port town was made and developed or how people traded in the 12-16C.

Similar to the Nakazu Higashihara Ruins Site, this was also a town at the Masuda River estuary, located at the right bank of the Imaichi River, a tributary of the Masuda River.

The excavated articles from the site suggests the town was formed in the early 16C, peaked in the late 16C and was used until 19C when goods brought from the Sea of Japan relayed here into the inner city of Masuda.

The site now crosses Route 9 at Otoyoshi East junction from north to south, where the allotment of land at that time is still visible. Houses lines up for 150m, with small paths to the river.

A stone wall which was built 18-19C shows some traces of house with jetty.

The Nanao Castle was the main fort of the Masuda clan. Located on the ridge of Mt. Nanao, the main keep stands 118m above from sea level.

This Y-shaped fort overlooks the Masuda Plain and further to the Sea of Japan.
The large scale mountain castle consisted of over 40 fortified points called kuruwa and protective ridges and moats.

The castle first appeared in documents around the Nanbokucho period (1337 – 1392), though there are various opinions on when it was first constructed.

It is believed to have been built as a small fortress for a start, then gradually expanded its size until the entire mountain was fortified by the end of 16th century.
Fujikane, the 19th lord of the Masuda clan was the last resident ruler of the castle.
He is said to have made some improvement to the castle to prepare against the Mori clan of Hiroshima.

Sumiyoshi-Jinja Shrine, sitting on the side of the castle hill, was originally erected within Myogi-ji Temple and later moved to the present location.

Miyake Odoi was built as the Masuda clan’s headquarter by the 11th lord Kanemi in the 14th century.

It was built in an area facing Nanao Castle across the Masuda river, because it was the key point to control water for both farming and water transporting.

The 19th lord Fujikane moved their headquarters from Miyake Odoi to Nanao Castle as enmity between them and the Mori clan of Hiroshima developed.
The 20th lord Motoyoshi repaired Miyake Odoi when he remade it as their headquarters.

The buildings were protected with 5m tall earthen wall, and moat and river surrounded outside.
Inside the moat it was 190m from east to west, and 110m from north to south, which was far larger than other equivalent clan’s headquarters which normally fits within 100m square each.

Miyake Odoi along with Nanao Castle was designated as a National Historic Site.
Inside Miyake Odoi ground it is now marked where buildings and well stood.

The remains of a mining town on the upper reaches of the Masuda River. “Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku (the true history of 3 reigns of Japan)” records that copper was found here in March 881 and the imperial court dispatched 2 officers for investigation.

Copper was the main output but it also produced some silver which was the Masuda clan’s resource of trade. The skills of mineworkers are thought to be brought to Iwami Ginzan silver mine.
It was under direct control of Tokugawa shogunate from 17C and then repeated operation and recess during 20C before it permanently closed in1987, which means the mine was active over 1100 years.

The remains of smelting workshop were found in the lower reaches of the Masuda River from Tsumo Mine Ruins Site, which was in operation during 14 – 15C.

It located in between the mine and a main road, which suggests the mine was in operation in 13 – 16C.

Many potter wares were also found from the ruins which is another indicator how this area flourished then.

The deciduous broad-leaved forest spreads in the Hikimi area, which is loicated in the bosom of the Chugoku Mountains.

The area prospered with its forestry and woodturning during the Edo period (1603 – 1868). With the Takatsu River carrying logs down, timber was main trading goods of Masuda.

It was recorded that large number of Hikimi timber were used to build Munakata Taisha Shrine of Fukuoka in the late-16C.

Adjacent to Hiroshima and located in the upper reaches of the Hikimi River. Hikimi was a strategically important area therefore the area has many ruins of forts and residents of powerful families.

Many pieces of ceramics made in China were found in those ruins in mountainous area; they are believed to be brought by boats from port towns in the river mouth.

Among all Class A river systems in Japan, the Takatsu River system, which includes both the Takatsu River and the Hikimi River, is the only river with no artificial dam. It is now rich with sweetfish or Japanese mitten crabs and it was once an important highway which brought trading goods from below and logs from upstream.

The Masuda River connected the port town areas of Masuda with the castle town area, or the present-day Mito area, whereas the Takatsu River connected the port town areas with the Hikimi area.

Many port towns were scattered about the lagoon in the Masuda Plain, to which copper and silver from Tsumo Mine in Mito area was brought by the river.

Some river improvement works were done along with the development of castle town around Nanao castle and Miyake Odoi headquarters.

Masuda River was important for Masuda clan to run their territory rich, safe and stable.

This portrait is painted by Sesshu, who is known as a landscapist, and is often used as a standard when other portraits need to appraise if it is a work of Sesshu or not. This is an important piece not only because of the quality of the work itself but also its historical background: Sesshu is said to have visited to work in Masuda twice, once in around 1479 and again in his later years, and deceased at then Toko-ji Temple (present Taikian). The portrait had long been in the collection of the Masuda family, then purchased by Masuda city in 1990 and has been kept in the city’s Sesshu Memorial Museum, where it is exhibited twice a year as Sesshu’s representative work. The museum also owns other valuable cultural properties, from which the visitors can learn about Sesshu’s accomplishments and footsteps.

This is a portrait of Masuda Motoyoshi (painted by Kano Shoei), the 20th lord of the Masuda clan.

Armed Motoyoshi is mounted on a dapple-gray horse, with a tiger-skin depicted under the saddle.
Tiger skin was one of the luxury articles imported from China and Korea.

It is written in an ancient document that the Masuda clan carried on active trade with foreign countries.

At the upper part of the picture is a Chinese poem of four lines composed by Nyoten Genkun, a Zen monk of the Toshun-ji Temple, the ancestral temple of Mori Motonari.
The poem, written in the early Edo period (1603 – 1868) after the death of Motoyoshi, praises his good deeds during his lifetime.

“Masudake Monjo”(Masuda clan archives) says that Masuda Fujikane (the then lord of the Masuca clan) and his son Motoyoshi served gorgeous dishes with many gifts to Mori Motonari when they visited him at Yoshida Koriyama castle in 1568.

It was to impress him the power and wealth they had.
Ayu and uruka, likely to be from Takatsu and Hikimi River, was on the menu and they both are still considered as specialties of the area.