三石宿(Mitsuishi inn town): finally in Okayama prefecture

Mitsuishi inn town is located in Bizen city, Okayama prefecture. Many Japanese bloggers have written something about this inn town. But this is another inn town that has very little info otherwise. And I am afraid that I am disappointing many readers in this article. 

Here is the overview. 


JR San’yo line Mitsuishi station is located in a very convenient place for the access. 
Right after crossing the river, there is an Ichirizuka distance marker ruins. So I found something. 
Passing by a factory to make bricks on the right. One of bloggers mentioned that this is where wakihonjin inn used to be. But I could not find anything to confirm it. 
The house on the left looks like a typical mid-1900s shop. But if you take a close look at it toward the roof, you will soon know that the house is actually much older. 

This house looks more promising. This could’ve been wakihonjin or a hatago inn. 
Another blogger said that this is either honjin or wakihonjin. 
As an Edo-time inn town, there are very few things to see. There are some picturesque scenes here, but I wish that I could find more. 
However, I didn’t realize that Mitsuishi has been known for a brick factory for 10 years. I will explain about it on the next picture. 







This brick bridge has been in use for over 110 years. Okayama-direction side was built in 1891, and Osaka-direction side was built in 1911. You will still see JR trains going over the bridge. 


The next stop is Katakami inn town, and we are traveling in an ancient ceramic paradise, Bizen city, one of the Six Kilns of Japan. 



References:

Civil Engineering Heritage recommended by Japan Society of Civil Engineering: the Brick Culverts in Mitsuishi. Japan Society of Civil Engineering. (The original title: 土木学会選奨土木遺産　三石の煉瓦拱渠群　日本土木学会) https://committees.jsce.or.jp/heritage/node/101 (Accessed in 6/3/2025)

History. MTK.Co., Ltd. https://mtaika.jp/rashix_lp/en/history/index.html# (Accessed in 6/3/2025)


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