Ise Azuchi-Momoyama Bunka Mura [Ise Sengoku Jidai Mura (Culture Village)] is a historical theme park that reproduces the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568 – 1600). The Azuchi-Momoyama Period was at the end of the Warring States Period when the three great samurai lords named Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu who are still well-known in Japan were active.
The period was also an age when a gorgeous culture blossomed, and the Japanese culture that is known today can be traced back to those days. Take a trip to the good old days. Bon voyage!
This park brings to life the Sengoku Period (15th-16th centuries), when the power of the samurai was at its height. With a reconstruction of Azuchi Castle as a backdrop, period dramas and ninja action shows are performed on the main stage, offering an enjoyable presentation of Japanese history.
Born in 1534, Oda Nobunaga ruled the region of Owari (today’s Aichi Prefecture) at the age of 26. In 1573, he got rid of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, thus destroying the Ashikaga Shogunate. In 1579, he ruled most of the central region of Japan and constructed the Azuchi Castle as the symbol of the unification of the nation. In 1582, however, he was attacked by one of his vassals, Akechi Mitsuhide, at the Honnoji Temple. He was thus killed at the age of 50.
The gold statue floating on the pond is a god of learning called “Tenjin sama.” The shrine enshrines Sugawara Michizane, a statesman of the 9th to the 10th century. He is famous as someone who was skillful in calligraphy and who edited a book of history.
Azuchi Castle was built in 1579 by Oda Nobunaga as the base for the unification of the nation. As high as 43 meters and covered with gold foils on the roof, this gorgeous castle boasted of being the highest wooden building in the world of those days. Burned down after the death of Nobunaga, the castle is called the “Great Phantom Castle”.
Rakuichi Rakuza is a merchant street selling a wide variety of souvenirs like toy swords and shuriken (ninja stars) of samurai and ninja and famous confections of the Ise-Shima area.
A Japanese castle consists of a donjon at the center, external walls surrounding it, gates, a garden, and other facilities. The turret gate of the Azuchi Castle is a gorgeous two-story gate and follows the style of the Warring State Period.
The full-scale wooden Great Gate of the Warring States Period welcomes you at the entrance.
Visitors can experience the life of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period in the castle town where actors disguise themselves as samurai and merchants to welcome them.
Ninja are a group of special combative professionals who collect information and disturb the enemy’s tactics. They were particularly active during the Warring States Period. “Iga” and “Koga” of Mie Prefecture are said to be the origin of ninja.
Azuchi Castle Hands-on Theater
Inside the Azuchi Castle is a huge theater that takes full advantage of leading-edge sound and image systems. The theater offers five scenes to present the life of Oda Nobunaga who aimed to unite the nation.
Playhouse
Visitors can enjoy comic shows to laugh and cry with the actors.
Japanese Comedy Theater
A moving drama with laughter, emotion, and pathos, lively performed in the center of Edo period.
Ninja Theater
A series of ninja actions. Powerful and impressive ninja spectacle!
Nyanmage Theater
Nyanmage and his new fellows, Wanmage, Panmage, and Sarumage, are at full blast in the movie!
Yamada Magistrate’s Office Theater
Visitors can see how a trial was held back in those days through a comic show.
About Futami town(Futami-cho), Ise City(Ise-shi)
Futami is known as the place where, in the old days, shrine visitors purified their bodies and souls. Particularly famous is the Rocks of Husband and Wife (Meoto Iwa). The Image of the sun rising from midway between the two rocks around the summer solstice is really overwhelming.
The Ise Shrine enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the ancestral goddess of the imperial family. The shrine is the top-ranking shrine and used to be inaccessible to the general public. The shrine building is rebuilt every two decades and inherits the architectural beauty that dates back to old days in Japan.
Toba is a historic town constructed by Kuki Yoshitaka, a famous admiral of Oda’s navy. The town is now popular because of its mild climate, green islands and blue sea and attracts public attention as a resort site.
The Shima region is a beautiful resort site because of its varied scenery consisting of rich greens and a deeply indented coastline. It is famous as a land of seafood and pearls.
On November 1, 2005 Futami town (Futami-cho), along with the town of Obata, and the village of Misono, all from Watarai District, was merged into the expanded Ise City (Ise-shi) and no longer exists as an independent municipality.
Hours:
March 17 through November 15, 9:00-17:00; November 16 through November 30, 9:00-16:00; December 1 through March 16, 9:30-16:00.
Entrance Fee:
Senior citizen(65or older): 2730yen, Adult: 3900yen, High school student: 2500yen, Junior high school student: 2500yen, Elementary school student: 2000yen.
Getting Bunka Mural theme park in Futami town (Futami-cho), Ise City (Ise-shi)
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- From Nagoya or Tokyo: Higashi-Meihan Expressway, Nagoya West IC Kameyama IC Meihan National Route Ise Expressway, Seki Junction Ise IC Ise Futami Toba Line Futamigaura Tollgate, then approximately one-minute ride from there.
- From Osaka: Kinki Expressway, Suita IC Nishi-Meihan Expressway, Matsubara Junction Tenri IC Meihan National Route Ise Expressway, Seki Junction Ise IC Ise Futami Toba Line Futamigaura Tollgate, then an approximately one-minute ride from there.
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- From Nagoya or Tokyo: 1)JR Nagoya Station Express Train Mie get off at Futamigaura Station on JR Sangu Line about 15 minutes’ walk 2)Kintetsu Nagoya Station Kintesu Super Express Kintetsu Yamada Line, get off at Uji Yamada Station or Toba Station about 20 minutes’ bus ride.
- From Osaka: Kintetsu Uehonmachi Station Kintesu Super Express Kintetsu Yamada Line, get off at Uji Yamada Station or Toba Station about 20 minutes’ bus ride.
Address and Contact:
Ise Azuchi Momoyama Bunka Mura 1201-1 Mitsu, Futami town (Futami-cho), Ise City (Ise-shi), Mie 519-0603 Tel: 0596-43-2300 Fax: 0596-42-1459
Website: http://www.ise-bunkamura.co.jp/
Additional Information:
https://www.iseshima-kanko.jp/en/see-and-do/1336