 History & Tourism |
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| Ako City has a long history and rich tradition. Historical parks in the Une district, the northern part of the city, are sites of the remains of pit dwellings from the middle to late Yayoi and late Kofun periods. Sakoshi, which was once one of the most prosperous harbours along the Seto Inland Sea, retains the harbour atmosphere in modern times. In the Kariya district, there are rows of historical and traditional houses along the Bizen |
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Highway and Onarimichi Street, through which the lords passed to visit their family temple, Kagakuji Temple. This colourful history and the rich traditions of the city, will be carefully preserved and passed down to the next generations.
Our forerunners established these colours. Now it is our turn to create the colours of today’s and tomorrow’s Ako. |
| Tourists(2005) |
| total |
day trippers |
overnight guests |
| 1,757,000 |
1,530,000 |
227,000 |
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| Kagakuji Temple |
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| Sakoshi Street |
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| Remains in the Une district |
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| Museum of History |
Museum of Folk Culture |
Tabuchi Museum of Art |
The 47 Samurai of Ako
Ako is celebrated as the home of the 47 Loyal Samurai. The stories of their vengeance for their lord have been told and printed as a national epic of Japan for 300 years. Even now they are retold in movies and TV dramas.
The Ako story started on March 14, 1701, in the Edo (Tokyo) Castle. The feudal lord of the Ako clan, Asano Naganori, injured Kira Yoshinaka, with a sword in a corridor of the Edo Castle. This was strictly forbidden, according to the law of the time. Both parties to arguments were considered to be at fault and usually punished. Lord Kira was declared not guilty and Lord Asano was sentenced to commit ritual suicide (seppuku) that day. Because of this his band of 269 warriors became masterless, or in Japanese ronin. One year later, on December 14, 47 of the ronin led by Oishi Kuranosuke stormed Kira's mansion and avenged their master. |
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| Historic sites
associated with the 47 Samurai
Ako Castle Ruins :
The ruins of Ako Castle, which was built in 1661 by Asano Naganao, the feudal Lord of Ako, are over 300 years old, and have been classed as an historic site and cultural asset.
The gate and garden of the Oishi Mansion :
The gate and garden of the Oishi Mansion can be found in the precincts of the Oishi Shrine founded in 1912. This monument, over 300 years old, has been classed as an historic site and cultural asset.
Kagakuji Temple :
Kagakuji Temple contains the tomb stones and wooden images of the 47 Samurai. It was established in 1645 as the family temple of the Asanos, and now serves as a historic museum as well. |
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| This action was praised and admired by people as a paragon of the samurai spirit. However, they too were sentenced to commit suicide by seppuku by order of the shogunate. Their willingness to sacrifice their own lives out of loyalty to their lord impressed people. The Gishi Festival dedicated to the 47 Loyal Samurai, takes place on December 14 every year and attracts around 100,000 tourists. |
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| Ako Castle Ruins |
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