今津宿(Imazu inn town): at the border to Onomichi city

今津宿(Imazu inn town) is very close to Onomichi city but still in Fukuyama city. The very reason why I am writing about Onomichi-Fukuyama border is…number one, otherwise I don’t know how I can describe Imazu inn town. The second reason is that, indeed, it was a border inn town of Fukuyama domain and Geishu domain(today’s major part of Hiroshima prefecture). There was a checkpoint on the pass of Onomichi. A domain is a country during Edo-period. 

Here is the overview of Imazu inn town. 

There are a few things to notice in Imazu inn town, but don’t expect yourselves to find much here, comparing to places like Yakage, Kannabe, Nanokaichi etc. 
As it goes in other inn towns, I simply assume that the bridge crossing Hongo river is most likely the east end of the inn town. 

Imazu does not have many old buildings. Downtown Fukuyama city near JR Fukuyama station had very intense air raids during WWII. However, as far as my online research went, there was no evidence that Imazu area had damage caused by air raids. 
Up on the hill, there is Yakushiji temple. There are many Yakushiji temples all over Japan, and they all worship Bhaisajyaguru, which means “Buddha able to cure all ills”. The most famous one is in Nara. But this particular one in Imazu had no online data available. 
There are some old houses here. 
This is the monument of Denchu Hirakushi(1872-1979) residence ruins. He was a sculptor. 
Denchu was born in Ibara city, Okayama, then adopted by Hirakushi family in this area. 
One of his most famous arts is Kagami jishi wooden statue at the national theater, Tokyo. Currently the statue is on display at Hirakushi Denchu art museum until the renewal of the national theater is completed. 
The gate is Imazu honjin inn. The honjin was established in 1602. In 1871, major parts of honjin structures were burned during farmers’ revolts. 
The gate at the top of the hill is Rengeji temple. This temple itself acted as Wakihonjin. 
For most part, this is today’s Inazu inn town.  
Apparently there was In’yoseki shrine. Today there are some post signs only. 

JR San’yodo line Matsukawa station is probably the closest. Google map estimates roughly 19-30 minutes walk from the station. 


The next stop is Onomichi, the cyclists’ paradise of Japan. 




References: 

Denchu Hirakushi. Wikipedia.com. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirakushi_Dench%C5%AB (Accessed in 7/15/2025)

Imazu Honjin ruins. Fukuyama city.(in Japanese: 今津本陣跡　福山市) https://www.city.fukuyama.hiroshima.jp/soshiki/bunka/64177.html (Accessed in 7/15/2025. Only in Japanese)

Historical Geographical Study on Sanyo-do in Fukuyama-han(clan) in the Edo era - the Status Quo of the Road, and the General View about the Stage Towns -. Shikoku Hatta. Research Reports of Kumamoto National College of Technology. No.21. December 1994. 

Kagami jishi returning home for the first time in 20 years. Okayama Kanko Web. Okayama Prefecture Tourism Federation.(Originally in Japanese: 鏡獅子20年ぶりの里帰り　岡山観光Web. 岡山観光連盟) https://www.okayama-kanko.jp/event/100677 (Accessed in 7/15/2025. In Japanese)



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