Town of Ikata

Seto Historical Sites

Suka Forest

(Prefecturally-designated Natural Heritage Site)

Suka Forest is located atop a natural sandbar formed by ocean tides. Japanese beech and Chinese juniper trees, as well as beech hibiscus and roses fill the area.

The entire forest was declared a Prefecturally-designated Natural Heritage Site on February 7, 1970.

Treasure Tower Pagoda

(Town-designated Cultural Heritage Site)

This pagoda was constructed to commemorate Buddhist scriptures, and is completely rectangular except for the round decorative bulb on its top.

On the pagoda body is inscribed the names of the four major Buddhas: Shakyamuni, the Healing Buddha, Amitabha, and Maitreya.

This pagoda stands at the entrance to the Choyoji temple graveyard, erected in October 1803 in the name of peace and tranquility for the Mitsukue area.

Shan Shan Dance

(Town-designated Cultural Asset)

Every year on September 1, the Shan Shan Dance is performed at the Okiyo Daimyojin shrine.

It is said that long ago the body of a woman named Okiyo washed up on the Ōku beach. This dance was offered to placate her spirit.

This dance was once performed as far as the northern Kyushu islands, by as many as 48 different groups. Today there are only 10 groups left, and though participation was once open only to men, women are now welcome to join.

Miya Forest

(Town-designated Natural Heritage Site)

Behind the former Kojima Elementary School building grows a thick forest that includes some trees estimated to be 400 years old. It was declared a Natural Heritage Site on October 1, 1983.

Nakao Castle Remains

(Town-designated Heritage Site)

Behind the former Seto Town Office there is a place called Moriyama that is said to be the remains of Nakao Castle (currently the site of the Jishūin Temple). The lord of the castle was Shigefusa, guard of Zen Inoue.

In the 1570s the Mitsukue bay area was plagued by pirates, so Ogimori Yawatahama sent Shigefusa to Mitsukue to protect the surrounding seas.

Thanks to Shigefusa's contributions, such as building Chōyōji Temple and clearing surrounding land for expanding the town, the area's population increased quickly and enjoyed great prosperity.

Thousand-handed Kannon Statue

(Town-designated Cultural Artifact)

After putting down the Christian uprising in Shimabara, Nagasaki, in 1639, military officer of the Uwajima clan Gonbe Kajita placed this statue in Kannon Hall inside Chōyōji Temple.

It is said that this statue was prayed to in mourning of the many Christians who died at Shimabara.