\uff3bContents\uff3d<\/h2>\n\n- Remnants of a beautiful past\u2014Kire Moated District <\/a><\/li>\n
- History buffs rejoice! Remnants of the H\u014dj\u014d clan <\/a><\/li>\n
- Just like in a movie! The nostalgic streets of Kire <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\u25a0 Remnants of a beautiful past\u2014Kire Moated District <\/h2>\n
![\"Kire](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A short walk from Kireuriwari Station on the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line, located not too far from Nagai Park and actually not that far from Osaka\u2019s southern Nanko port, there\u2019s a residential neiborhood with apartment buildings scattered among houses. At first glance, the neighborhood doesn’t seem too out of the ordinary for the streets of Osaka, but in the middle of it all, is something very unique, very unusual, and very special. One area of this neighborhood, known as the Kire Moated District, Kirekang\u014dchiku<\/em> in Japanese, is brimming with romantic nostalgia. <\/p>\nAs you may guess from the name, this district was once surrounded by a moat to guard against enemy forces. The moat is believed to have been 3 meters deep and the Kire Castle inner citadel (honmaru<\/em>) was located at present-day Nyoganji Temple. <\/p>\nEdo Period scholar Mot\u014dri Norinaga wrote in his Commentaries on the Kojiki<\/em> that the name Kire derived from the name Kure, a region in mainland Asia. People from Kure settled in this region and the name eventually came to be pronounced as Kire. <\/p>\nAnother thing to note about this ancient period in history is that sea-level was much higher than present-day and there was likely a port here during the J\u014dmon period (14,000\u2013300BCE). People lived in this district throughout important periods in history like the Northern and Southern Courts (1336\u20131392) and the infamous Siege of Osaka (1614\u20131615). During the Edo period (1603\u20131867) the moat came to be used for irrigation and Jiz\u014d statues were placed at the 6 entrances to the moated area. Kire really has a lot of deep history!<\/p>\n
\u25a0 History buffs rejoice! Remnants of the H\u014dj\u014d clan <\/h2>\n
![\"Kire](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img02.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Kire Moated District has rows of historic houses that are at least a century old. The oldest of the kominka (old Japanese style houses) is the Sasaki house, which was built in 1776. That means it\u2019s over 200 years old!
\nTo be clear, the area which was once surrounded by a moat, but has since been filled in, takes about 20 minutes to walk around. And although the area is by no means spacious, there are an impressive number of temples and shrines here, including Nyoganji Temple, H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple, Sennenji Temple, Hossho\u014dji Temple, Sensh\u014dji Temple, H\u014denji Temple, and Tatehara Jinja Shrine. Combined with the beautiful old houses, the temples and shrines give Kire all the charms of an old-style Japanese town.<\/p>\n
![\"Homyoji](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img03.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple, located at the southern edge of the district, is one of the remarkable sights to see. The walls of the temple are decorated in five white horizontal lines in an old architectural style called sujikabe that indicates rank with the number of lines. This temple would have had the highest rank, signified by five lines, whereas other structures may have had three or four.<\/p>\n
See one of the six Jizo that guarded an entrance to the Kire Moated District, which is located right across from H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple. And next to that you\u2019ll find the Nagabashi House, which features a gate brought here from the H\u014dj\u014d\u2019s administrative headquarters (jinya) at Sasayama.<\/p>\n
History buffs will know that the H\u014dj\u014d clan was a powerful family that held great power in East Japan and headed the Shogunate for five generations beginning with H\u014dj\u014d S\u014dun (b. Xxxx\u20131519). The same H\u014dj\u014d clan who later surrendered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi at Odawara. But a little known fact about the clan is that it lived on in prosperity under the Toyotomi regime. The H\u014dj\u014d were allotted 10,000 koku (unit of rice collected through taxes, each koku is considered enough rice to feed an adult for one year). Anyone with an eye for history will be impressed to see architecture from this elite samurai family.<\/p>\n
\u25a0 Just like in a movie! The nostalgic streets of Kire <\/h2>\n
![\"streets](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img04.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
North of H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple, there\u2019s this beautiful alleyway lined with gorgeous old houses. The wooden walls have a soft elegance you\u2019d never expect out of twenty-first century Osaka. All of these buildings are traditional kominka houses from the Meiji era(1868\u20131912), and proudly display their latticed windows, white and black plaster walls making the perfect setting for a photo or film. Without even thinking, I caught myself snapping photos. <\/p>\n
Continuing north you\u2019ll come upon an old sake brewery, the Masui House, and if you head further east you\u2019ll see Tatehara Jinja Shrine.<\/p>\n
![\"Tatehara](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img05.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The shrine grounds are so incredibly peaceful and pleasant to explore. As I walked further, I came upon a small door.<\/p>\n
![\"Nyoganji](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img06.jpg\")
\n![\"Nyoganji](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img07.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
And here I\u2019ve arrived at Nyoganji Temple.
\nIt\u2019s funny to think there is a temple right on the other side, with only a small door in between.
\nAccording to temple legend, Nyoganji originates in the 580\u2019s when Prince Sh\u014dtoku Taishi Kireji Temple, which was then rebuilt by K\u014db\u014d Daishi (aka K\u016bkai) in 817. The temple later became grounds for the Kire Castle and maintains a special air of importance within the Kire Moated District.
\nFull of traditional architecture, homes, storehouses, temples, and shrines, there is so much history lining the streets of Kire. And on the 23rd and 24th of August, every year Jizo-bon celebrations are held near the 6 Jizo statues.
\nThe area might remind you of Nara or Kyoto, but it has its own unique culture. Take a trip to this special part of Osaka and experience it for yourself.<\/p>\n
![\"Kire](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img08.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Bonus Tidbit <\/h2>\n
On my way from Kireuriwari Station walking towards Kire Moated District, I spotted this! It\u2019s an old watering station and it looked so interesting I had to snap a photo. Apparently, long ago, they used to be painted red.<\/p>\n
![\"historic](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/09\/kire-moated-settlement-img09.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u25a0 Remnants of a beautiful past\u2014Kire Moated District <\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
A short walk from Kireuriwari Station on the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line, located not too far from Nagai Park and actually not that far from Osaka\u2019s southern Nanko port, there\u2019s a residential neiborhood with apartment buildings scattered among houses. At first glance, the neighborhood doesn’t seem too out of the ordinary for the streets of Osaka, but in the middle of it all, is something very unique, very unusual, and very special. One area of this neighborhood, known as the Kire Moated District, Kirekang\u014dchiku<\/em> in Japanese, is brimming with romantic nostalgia. <\/p>\n As you may guess from the name, this district was once surrounded by a moat to guard against enemy forces. The moat is believed to have been 3 meters deep and the Kire Castle inner citadel (honmaru<\/em>) was located at present-day Nyoganji Temple. <\/p>\n Edo Period scholar Mot\u014dri Norinaga wrote in his Commentaries on the Kojiki<\/em> that the name Kire derived from the name Kure, a region in mainland Asia. People from Kure settled in this region and the name eventually came to be pronounced as Kire. <\/p>\n Another thing to note about this ancient period in history is that sea-level was much higher than present-day and there was likely a port here during the J\u014dmon period (14,000\u2013300BCE). People lived in this district throughout important periods in history like the Northern and Southern Courts (1336\u20131392) and the infamous Siege of Osaka (1614\u20131615). During the Edo period (1603\u20131867) the moat came to be used for irrigation and Jiz\u014d statues were placed at the 6 entrances to the moated area. Kire really has a lot of deep history!<\/p>\n The Kire Moated District has rows of historic houses that are at least a century old. The oldest of the kominka (old Japanese style houses) is the Sasaki house, which was built in 1776. That means it\u2019s over 200 years old! H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple, located at the southern edge of the district, is one of the remarkable sights to see. The walls of the temple are decorated in five white horizontal lines in an old architectural style called sujikabe that indicates rank with the number of lines. This temple would have had the highest rank, signified by five lines, whereas other structures may have had three or four.<\/p>\n See one of the six Jizo that guarded an entrance to the Kire Moated District, which is located right across from H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple. And next to that you\u2019ll find the Nagabashi House, which features a gate brought here from the H\u014dj\u014d\u2019s administrative headquarters (jinya) at Sasayama.<\/p>\n History buffs will know that the H\u014dj\u014d clan was a powerful family that held great power in East Japan and headed the Shogunate for five generations beginning with H\u014dj\u014d S\u014dun (b. Xxxx\u20131519). The same H\u014dj\u014d clan who later surrendered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi at Odawara. But a little known fact about the clan is that it lived on in prosperity under the Toyotomi regime. The H\u014dj\u014d were allotted 10,000 koku (unit of rice collected through taxes, each koku is considered enough rice to feed an adult for one year). Anyone with an eye for history will be impressed to see architecture from this elite samurai family.<\/p>\n North of H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple, there\u2019s this beautiful alleyway lined with gorgeous old houses. The wooden walls have a soft elegance you\u2019d never expect out of twenty-first century Osaka. All of these buildings are traditional kominka houses from the Meiji era(1868\u20131912), and proudly display their latticed windows, white and black plaster walls making the perfect setting for a photo or film. Without even thinking, I caught myself snapping photos. <\/p>\n Continuing north you\u2019ll come upon an old sake brewery, the Masui House, and if you head further east you\u2019ll see Tatehara Jinja Shrine.<\/p>\n The shrine grounds are so incredibly peaceful and pleasant to explore. As I walked further, I came upon a small door.<\/p>\n And here I\u2019ve arrived at Nyoganji Temple. On my way from Kireuriwari Station walking towards Kire Moated District, I spotted this! It\u2019s an old watering station and it looked so interesting I had to snap a photo. Apparently, long ago, they used to be painted red.<\/p>\n\u25a0 History buffs rejoice! Remnants of the H\u014dj\u014d clan <\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
\nTo be clear, the area which was once surrounded by a moat, but has since been filled in, takes about 20 minutes to walk around. And although the area is by no means spacious, there are an impressive number of temples and shrines here, including Nyoganji Temple, H\u014dmy\u014dji Temple, Sennenji Temple, Hossho\u014dji Temple, Sensh\u014dji Temple, H\u014denji Temple, and Tatehara Jinja Shrine. Combined with the beautiful old houses, the temples and shrines give Kire all the charms of an old-style Japanese town.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u25a0 Just like in a movie! The nostalgic streets of Kire <\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s funny to think there is a temple right on the other side, with only a small door in between.
\nAccording to temple legend, Nyoganji originates in the 580\u2019s when Prince Sh\u014dtoku Taishi Kireji Temple, which was then rebuilt by K\u014db\u014d Daishi (aka K\u016bkai) in 817. The temple later became grounds for the Kire Castle and maintains a special air of importance within the Kire Moated District.
\nFull of traditional architecture, homes, storehouses, temples, and shrines, there is so much history lining the streets of Kire. And on the 23rd and 24th of August, every year Jizo-bon celebrations are held near the 6 Jizo statues.
\nThe area might remind you of Nara or Kyoto, but it has its own unique culture. Take a trip to this special part of Osaka and experience it for yourself.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Bonus Tidbit <\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2020\/12\/202011-one-inch-boy-issunboshi-main.jpg\")