Things about Oiso

Oiso, a Town with a Deep History

Birthplace of Shonan

Oiso is credited as the birthplace of the regional name “Shonan.” In 1664, during the early Edo period, Sosetsu of Odawara carved on the back of a marker stone at Shigitatsu-an in Oiso, “Shonan, the land of clear and absolute tranquility,” likening the scenery to that of the Hunan region near the Xiang River in China, noted for its extraordinary beauty.

Origin of Beach Resorts

In 1885, Matsumoto Jun, the first Surgeon General of the Imperial Japanese Army, initiated “sea bathing” as a pioneering Western medical practice, establishing Japan’s first beach resort in Oiso.

Backroom of Meiji-era Politics

Oiso was known as the backroom of Meiji-era politics, frequented by Ito Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan, among eight successive prime ministers and other key political figures of the Meiji era, who built villas and residences here.

Facilities Related to Oiso’s History

Meiji Kinen Oiso Residences and Gardens

This residence park is a rare site associated with figures like Ito Hirobumi, Okuma Shigenobu, Saionji Kinmochi, and Mutsu Munemitsu, who played significant roles in the establishment of constitutional politics.
* Please note that the villas are currently under maintenance, so only the gardens are open for viewing. Indoor visits are not possible.
Only the former Okuma Shigenobu villa, the former Furukawa villa, the site of the former Mutsu Munemitsu villa, and the garden of the former Furukawa villa are open. Maintenance will continue in phases.

[Access] About 3.3 km from Oiso Prince Hotel
By car: * There is currently no parking available due to maintenance.
By taxi: About 5 minutes
By bicycle: About 14 minutes

Festival in Oiso

“Oiso Sagicho Festival” – Mid-January

National-designated important intangible folk-cultural property

The Sagicho Festival in Oiso is a fire festival dedicated to Se-e-no-Kami-san, the guardian deity of travelers, also known as Se-e-to-ba-re and Dondoyaki. On the day of the festival, decorations and auspicious items from the New Year, collected from various parts of the town, including ceremonial Onbe bamboo and temporary shelters, are brought to the beach. There, nine large conical pyres are constructed. As darkness falls, these nine pyres are lit. It is believed that eating dango dumplings cooked on these fires prevents colds, a work of New Year’s calligraphy that flies high in the air leads to improvement in skills, and taking home remnants of the burned pine as a protective charm placed on roofs helps prevent fires.
[Location] Oiso Kitahama Beach

About “Se-e-no-Kami-san”

Se-e-no-Kami-san are roadside deities. They are commonly enshrined in the form of stone monuments or statues at village boundaries, village centers, areas in between villages, at road intersections, or at three-way junctions. They are revered as village guardian deities, for the prosperity of descendants, and, in more recent times, as deities of travel and traffic safety.

About “a work of New Year’s calligraphy”

A work of New Year’s calligraphy refers to a piece of writing or drawing created for the first time in the new year. The writing or drawing may embody resolutions, plans, or auspicious words, symbolizing the achievement of goals and celebrating the new year.

“Sagami Konomachi Festival” – May 5th

Kanagawa Prefecture intangible folk-cultural property

This festival is a gathering of six shrines from Sagami.
It originated over a thousand years ago during a time when provincial and district systems were established. The chief administrators and provincial governors of Sagami prayed to the deities for peace and abundant harvests in the province.
At Kamisoroi-yama, the ritualized debate (zamondou) takes place, concerning which shrine is the primary one, between the current Ichinomiya Samukawa Shrine and Ninomiya Kawawa Shrine. At Oyaba (now Baba Park), the provincial governor’s festival and three types of dances are dedicated.

The six shrines of Sagami:
Ichinomiya: Samukawa Shrine (Samukawa, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Ninomiya: Kawawa Shrine (Ninomiya, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Sannomiya: Hibita Shrine (Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Shinomiya: Sakitori Shrine (Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Hachimangu: Hiratsuka Hachimangu (Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Sosha: Rokusho Shrine (Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture)