| Akanoi |
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Etymology There is a folklore as follows: When a severe drought attacked this area, a great buddhist monk, Kobo-Daishi, dug a well and instantly a magical fountain gushed. The local people called this well "Aka-no-i(a well of "aqua"("water" in Sanscrit))". |
Akanoi noted for transport Akanoi was one of the representative ports at the south plain near Lake Biwa in the Edo Period(A.D.1603-1868). Rice paid as land tax was collected with boats from the surrounding villages to be consigned to the forwarding agencies at Akanoi and sailing ships brought the rice to Otsu Port (the biggest port in Lake Biwa). Pilgrims from the west of Lake Biwa to Ise Shrine (the most revered Shinto shrine in Japan 100 km distant from Akanoi), after crossing the Lake from Katata Port (located at the west coast of Lake Biwa) to Akanoi Port, took the course of Uma-michi (Horse Road) or the Akanoi port route which were directly connected to Nakasendoh (the main and historical road from Tokyo to Kusatsu) artery or to a post town, Moriyama. |
Photo: Akanoi Bay@
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