Kitamae Shipowner Ukon Family Residence

The Kitamae-bune ships were cargo ships that sailed irregularly between Osaka and Hokkaido through the Sea of Japan from the mid-Edo Period to the 1900s, stopping at ports along the way to trade goods. The Ukon Family were one of the major shipowners of the Kitamae-bune from the Tenmei (1780s) to the Kansei (1789-1801) eras in the Edo Period. Following the decline of the Kitamae-bune ships, the family brought in steamships and furthered the modernization of the maritime industry, while also going into the marine insurance industry. They succesfully transitioned their business and later set up the company Nippon Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd., which remains till today. There is a garden on the hill behind the former family residence, where the Seiyokan stands. The two buildings are connected by a walking path, from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the Sea of Japan.