Maizuru City
Vibrant International Port and Exchange-hub City of East Asia
Maizuru City - Where people can have enriching lives
Maizuru City is located almost in the central part of Honshu, northeast of Kyoto Prefecture. It is situated within the 100km zone from the Keihanshin area. About 80% of the city area is covered with forest. The town areas are built on the plains that face Maizuru Port and approximately 70% of the population is concentrated there.
The Maizuru Port entrance is in Wakasa Bay. This port is a well-sheltered natural harbor. Its approximately 98km-long coastline is a ria (or drowned river valley) with an intricate mix of coves and capes. It is designated as a part of the Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park.
In the Higashi-Maizuru and Kitasui districts, there are red brick warehouse buildings that were built from the Meiji period to Taisho period as storage warehouses for military munitions of the Maizuru 'Chinju-fu (naval base).' The 12 red brick buildings that still exist maintain the characteristics of those days even now after the passing of 100 years and create a unique setting. Eight among the 12 buildings were designated as national important cultural properties in 2008. Maizuru City renovated five of those warehouses in an effort to make the red brick buildings a strategic hub for tourism and the whole area was opened as "Maizuru Red Brick Park" in May 2012. The city is moving forward with urban planning that takes advantage of the red brick buildings.
Maizuru served as a "repatriation port" for 13 years after the end of the war and received approximately 660,000 repatriates and 16,000 sets of remains, mainly from Siberia of the former Soviet Union and former Manchuria of China. The repatriates, who sailed into Maizuru port and set foot on Maizuru from Taira-sanbashi Pier, shed tears of joy and exchanged greetings with their receiving families. On the other hand, every time a repatriation ship entered the port, there were mothers who stood anxiously at the pier waiting for their sons to return. The sight of those mothers became known as "Ganpeki no haha (mothers on the quay)." Because of the hit song, "Ganpeki no haha," Maizuru became famous as a "repatriation town" throughout Japan. In 1988, Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum was opened to educate future generations about the historical facts on repatriation from overseas and detention and the importance of lasting world peace. Today, Maizuru City is pushing forward with a project for registering the reference documents on repatriation as a part of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme in order to preserve the historical facts for future generations and pass on value of peace to the world.
Maizuru City is making an effort to invigorate the district as an exchange hub for "people and materials" with Kyoto Maizuru Port (base port on the side of the Japan Sea) at the center. At the same time, all local communities are working hand-in-hand in promoting urban development directed toward building Maizuru with a "nonresident population of 3 million and an economically active population of 10,000," based on the concept of a city where people can have enriched lives.
Official tree of Maizuru City
Japanese zelkova
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Official flower of Maizuru City
Azalea
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| Municipality enforcement |
May 27, 1943 |
| Area |
342.13 km2 |
| Population |
79,869 |
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Akarenga (Red Brick) Park
This park has a beautiful setting of red brick architecture built by the former Japanese Navy. Many navy warehouses with red brick structures were built in this area around the time the operation of Maizuru 'Chinju-fu (naval base)' started in 1901. Today, 12 of those buildings remain. The street, called the red brick road, was reconstructed by Maizuru citizens and creates beautiful setting that is reminiscent of that period.Akarenga (Red Brick) Park
Tanabe-jo Castle ruins
The castle gate was completed in 1992. In the exhibition room, there are displays of successive lords of the castle with the focus on Yusai Hosokawa and history of the castle town Tanabe. The Shouko Kan (two-level tower) displays reference documents related to nishiki-e (wood block prints) from the "Itoi Bunko Library."Tanabe-jo Castle ruins
View from Mt. Gorogadake -- No. 1 of 100 famous views of Kinki
The 301-meter-high Mt. Gorogadake is located almost in the center of Maizuru. Visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Maizuru Port with its beautiful and extensive ria coastline as well as the townscape of Maizuru City from the observation deck of the 50 meter high Goro Sky Tower that rises above Mt. Gorogadake. This view is ranked number 1 of the 100 famous views of Kinki.View from Mt. Gorogadake -- No. 1 of 100 famous views of KinkiView from Mt. Gorogadake -- No. 1 of 100 famous views of Kinki
Maizuru tea and tea plantation
Maizuru tea won first place in production for the 'kabusecha (covered tea)' category awarded by Zenkoku Cha Hinpyokai (National Fair of Tea) (won awards for four consecutive years from fiscal 2012). Maizuru tea is grown in the fertile soil along a Class A river, namely Yura-gawa River, with a lush natural environment. Maizuru tea leaves are very thin and make a very strong but clear tea. The tea also has a good flavor and is highly popular as a raw ingredient for 'Uji-cha (prized Japanese green tea).'
Repatriation pier
The hit song, "Ganpeki no haha," made Maizuru famous as a "repatriation town" throughout Japan. Since the end of the war in 1945, Maizuru received approximately 660,000 repatriates and approximately 16,000 sets of remains. The pier was reconstructed in 1994 in an effort to let people learn about its history. Repatriation Memorial Park, which exhibits reference documents related to the historical facts of repatriation, was renovated and opened in September 2015. Some of these reference materials have been registered in UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme.
Kongo-in Temple
According to legend, this temple was founded by the Imperial Prince Takaoka early in the Heian period and was restored by Emperor Shirakawa. This temple contains a number of cultural assets starting with a three-storied pagoda that is designated a national important cultural property. Among those cultural assets, the standing statue of Jisha Taisho is a masterpiece of Kaikei, the famous Buddha statue sculptor of the Kamakura period.
Childrearing communication facility "Asobi Amu"
This all-weather childrearing communication facility was opened in April 2015. Anyone regardless of age can participate in fun and games at this facility. It has three separate areas in a vast compound. Adults and children can play together based on the theme of "Asobi (play)."
Dai Shoya Ueno family residence
The Ueno family estate was built in the late Edo period or earlier (about 170 years ago). There are a number of historic buildings on the premises, such as the thatched roof main house and outhouses, and the storehouses. Yaichiro Ueno, the 12th generation head of the family, knew Joseph Hardy Neesima (Niijima Jo) and letters written by Neesima regarding the establishment of Doshisha University are displayed in the store exhibit.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Kitasui Pier
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) pier is located along Route 27. State-of-the-art patrol ships of the JMSDF are anchored at a quay that is about 1 kilometer long (in a straight line). You can see those ships with your own eyes and feel their powerful presence. (Visits on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays only. Note that sometimes visitors may not be allowed entry due to training exercises, etc.)
Maizuru West Port (cruise ships)
Kyoto Maizuru Port was selected as a base port of the Japan Sea side in 2011. Large vessels such as international cruise passenger ships stop at the port. The port has expanded its functions along with the times.Maizuru West Port (cruise ships)
Kanmuri-jima Island
Kanmuri-jima Island is a deserted island in Wakasa Bay. The streaked shearwaters designated as a natural monument breed in this island, and it is believed to be the last paradise for streaked shearwaters. This island also bears the nickname "Oshima-san" or island of god and is widely revered by local fishermen. Visits to this island are normally banned, but are permitted on the pretext of "Oshima-mairi (a visit to Oshima Island) during the annual festival of the Oito-jima shrine on June 1 every year. This island is designated as "Japan's top 100 historical and cultural assets of the fishing industry and fishing towns passed to the future."Kanmuri-jima Island
Maizuru Nature Cultural Park (hydrangeas garden)
Maizuru Nature Cultural Park is a park blessed with the magnificent nature of Oura Peninsula located in northeast of Maizuru City. In this park, there are a camellia garden (approximately 30,000 plants of 1,500 varieties) and a hydrangea garden (approximately 10,000 bushes of 50 varieties). Many visitors come to the park during the flowering seasons every year. Visitors can fully enjoy seasonal sights such as green grass in early summer and colored leaves in autumn. This park is a popular place where people come in contact with a natural environment of countryside mountains and woods and it is an excellent place for observing nature.
Manganji Amato (Manganji-temple green pepper)
It is believed that Manganji village in Maizuru City is the birthplace of this particular green pepper. It was officially certified as the first Kyoto-brand product in 1989. This green pepper is an all-purpose vegetable because it is large and soft and has a thick flesh and it can be used in any kind of dish by boiling, baking, or frying.
Maizuru Kamaboko (minced and steamed fish)
Every piece of "Maizuru Kamaboko" is meticulously prepared by the skillful and passionate kamaboko craftsmen using generous amounts of minced meat of fresh fish caught from the surrounding sea. Produced by Maizuru's special processing method, this kamaboko has a deep flavor and a soft but resilient and pleasantly firm texture when it is chewed.
Annual event schedule
| Time |
Event |
Description |
| Beginning of May |
Maizuru Tsutsuji (azalea) Matsuri Festival |
About 25,000 azalea plants - the City’s official flower - in bloom. |
| May 8 |
Matsunoo-dera Temple hotokemai (Buddhist dance) |
This Buddhist dance conducted at Matsunoo-dera Temple is designated as an important intangible folk culture asset. |
| Late May |
Tanabe-jo Matsuri Festival |
This festival reenacts the historical incident of Yusai Hosokawa fortifying himself in his castle. |
| Late July |
Minato Maizuru Chatta Matsuri Festival |
The name of this festival refers to the Maizuru dialect 'chatta' spoken in the Maizuru region. |
| Mid-August |
Joya no Age-taimatsu Festival |
This Shinto shrine festival is held at Amabiki-jinja Shrine based on the legend of slaying a serpent. |
| Mid-August |
Yoshiwara no Mandoro Festival |
This fire festival was started in order to appease the wrath of the Sea God. |
| Late September |
Maizuru Sakana Matsuri Festival |
This festival is held for promoting the fish of Maizuru. |
| Mid-October |
Maizuru Red Brick Half Marathon |
The participants run through interesting spots such as Maizuru Red Brick Park and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) base. |
| Late October |
Akarenga Festa (the Red Brick Festival) |
Visitors can enjoy arts and crafts and cuisine. |
| Every month |
Akarenga Bazar |
This bazar is held in the red brick warehouse. |
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