Shinmachi River
Encyclopedia
Counting the Suketō River
, Tamiya River, Sako River, and Sumiyoshijima River as its tributaries, the is a river found in the heart of Tokushima City in Tokushima Prefecture
.
At current, the non-profit organization
Shinmachi Preservation Committee is in charge of keeping the river clean and holding tours around the river via boat.
the Shinmachi River was a very busy area due to the travel of boats carrying Indigo Dyeing wares, one of the main trades supporting finance in the region at the time.
- Tokushima City, and passes by many well known tourist spots within the city area.
, the condition of the river was so good as to allow people to swim there during the summertime. However, in the coming years the river became increasingly polluted and thus unsuitable for swimming. Efforts in recent years to clean up the river have improved its overall condition greatly, but there still remains some sludge on the bottom of the river and it has yet to return to its former glory.
and Mizugiwai Park areas along the riverside are popular spots for events. The river itself is also used during an event each Christmas
, in which people dressed in Santa suits distribute gifts to children along the riverside from atop boats. Over 3,000 presents are given out each year.
Suketo River
The is a river in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It starts on the western side of Hyōtan-jima where the Shinmachi River hits the Mitsuai Bridge and runs around to meet the river again to the east...
, Tamiya River, Sako River, and Sumiyoshijima River as its tributaries, the is a river found in the heart of Tokushima City in Tokushima Prefecture
Tokushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is the city of Tokushima.- Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture :Long ago, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun...
.
At current, the non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Shinmachi Preservation Committee is in charge of keeping the river clean and holding tours around the river via boat.
History
During the Edo periodEdo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
the Shinmachi River was a very busy area due to the travel of boats carrying Indigo Dyeing wares, one of the main trades supporting finance in the region at the time.
Geography
The Shinmachi River runs through the middle of the capital city of Tokushima PrefectureTokushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is the city of Tokushima.- Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture :Long ago, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun...
- Tokushima City, and passes by many well known tourist spots within the city area.
Water
Up until the early Shōwa periodShowa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
, the condition of the river was so good as to allow people to swim there during the summertime. However, in the coming years the river became increasingly polluted and thus unsuitable for swimming. Efforts in recent years to clean up the river have improved its overall condition greatly, but there still remains some sludge on the bottom of the river and it has yet to return to its former glory.
Events
The Aibahama ParkAibahama Park
Aibahama Park is a park in Aiba-cho in Tokushima City in Tokushima Prefecture.- Overview :Found alongside the Shinmachi River that winds its way through the middle of Tokushima City, the Aibahama Park grounds are known as a popular place for events...
and Mizugiwai Park areas along the riverside are popular spots for events. The river itself is also used during an event each Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, in which people dressed in Santa suits distribute gifts to children along the riverside from atop boats. Over 3,000 presents are given out each year.
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Hana Haru Festa Hana Haru Festa The Hana Haru Festival Japanese: Hana Haru Festa is a large-scale event held each year in April in the Aibahama Park in Shinmachi Riverside, Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture.... |
Aibahama Park Aibahama Park Aibahama Park is a park in Aiba-cho in Tokushima City in Tokushima Prefecture.- Overview :Found alongside the Shinmachi River that winds its way through the middle of Tokushima City, the Aibahama Park grounds are known as a popular place for events... |
Three days during late April |
| The Tanabata Balloon Release | The Shinmachi Bashi Higashi Park | July 7（Tanabata Tanabata is a Japanese star festival, originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi . According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the... ） |
| Awa Odori | Various areas alongside the river | Four days in mid-August |
| Awa no Tanuki Festival Awa no Tanuki Festival The Awa no Tanuki Festival is a festival held each year in early November in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture.-Overview:The Awa no Tanuki festival was first started in 1978 with the aims of promoting local culture, and has since grown into Tokushima's main Autumn festival... |
Aibahama Park Aibahama Park Aibahama Park is a park in Aiba-cho in Tokushima City in Tokushima Prefecture.- Overview :Found alongside the Shinmachi River that winds its way through the middle of Tokushima City, the Aibahama Park grounds are known as a popular place for events... |
Three days in early November |
| Winter Swimming in the Shinmachi River | Near the Mizugiwai Park | Winter |
| The Hyotan-jima River Festival | The Shinmachi Boardwalk | |
Tourist spots
Tokushima City is home to many different historical sites due to its long history as the capital city in the region.| Name | Genre | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hyotan-jima Boat Cruise | Boat Cruise | The only free boat cruise in Japan. |
| Tokushima Castle Remains | Castle Remains | The remains of the castle built by the Hachisuka clan Hachisuka clan The ' are descendants of Emperor Seiwa and are a branch of the Ashikaga clan and the Shiba clan .Ashikaga Ieuji , son of Ashikaga Yasuuji was the first who adopted the name of Shiba... in years long past. |
| Washi no Mon | Historical Remains | Once used as the main gate to Tokushima Castle. |
| Tokushima Castle Garden | Garden | Nationally designated as one of the most famous gardens in all Japan. |
| Tokushima Castle Museum | Museum | A museum found in the middle of Tokushima Central Park and the remains of Tokushima Castle. |