Discover Akashi: Market History and Culture

Akashi offers a variety of ways to explore the city: market activity and the fish trade sit alongside the history of the castle, exhibitions, and the planetarium. The places and activities below offer specific points of interest without limiting the view of the city to a single facet.

Uonotana: Market History and the Fish Trade

Akashi’s Uonotana Shopping Street is also known as Uonotana. It is said to have emerged around 400 years ago, when Akashi Castle was built; its layout is attributed to Miyamoto Musashi’s urban planning. For travelers interested in history, this means there is more to explore than just its approximate origins: the traditional attribution of the street’s planning is also a point of interest.

The daily market offers another perspective on the street: fish and octopus caught in Akashi are auctioned near the harbor and then brought live to Uonotana’s shops. Fresh fish is laid out there in the afternoon, usually from around 12:30 p.m. If you are interested in the market’s goods, the afternoon is therefore a useful guide for planning your visit; the usual start time is approximate. The auction, transport to the shops, and later sale describe different stages of the same local fish trade.

Time, Local History, and Hands-on Activities

The Akashi Municipal Planetarium stands directly above the 135th meridian east, which defines Japan Standard Time. Through the planetarium and its exhibitions, it shares knowledge about time and space. The Akashi Municipal Culture Museum focuses on something different: its permanent exhibition presents Akashi’s history and culture through eight themes. The museum also holds special and temporary exhibitions. In comparison, the planetarium focuses on time and space, while the museum explores Akashi’s history and culture.

The Culture Museum also offers workshops led by volunteers. These include dressing in junihitoe and armor, Saori weaving, and making eco-bags. These activities differ from the exhibitions: in addition to learning about the themes, visitors can take part in practical activities involving clothing, weaving, and crafts. When weighing your interests for the trip, the exhibitions and these workshops can therefore offer different points of connection.

The Towers of Akashi Castle

The surviving Tatsumi and Hitsujisaru towers of Akashi Castle date from the period when it was built, around 400 years ago. They are among only twelve surviving three-story towers in Japan and are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The origins of Uonotana are also linked to the construction of the castle and a period of roughly 400 years. This makes it possible to compare the market’s history and castle culture across a similar historical period, while the attribution of the market’s planning to Miyamoto Musashi is a distinct aspect of Uonotana’s history.

Discover more destinations: Ono, Himeji, Amagasaki, Kato, Kōbe, Sanda, Sumoto, Toyooka.

For the broader travel overview: Hyōgo Prefecture.