Joge Town in Fuchu City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
A mountain town where the essence of "tenryou" remains.
The memories of those who lived through the tomultuous transition from the Edo to Meiji periods lingers, along with magnificent traditions, culture and character.
Carefully preserved over generations, the peaceful and historical townscape is tucked away, embraced by the Bingo mountains.
Welcome to Joge Town, where the charm of traditional Japanese lifestyle, architecture, and hospitality abounds.

History of "tenryou" Joge

Iwami Ginzan, which once produced 1/3rd of the world’s silver. In order to deliver silver to Kyoto and Osaka, in addition to the shipping route through the Sea of Japan (The sea off the north coast of Japan), the "Ginzan Kaido" or "Silver Highway" which passes through the mountains by land to the shipping port of Kasaoka, was also established.
In the 11th year of the Genroku era (1698)(the era is named after the Emperor at the time), the Fukuyama clan’s Mizuno family collapsed due to the death of their heir and Joge fell under direct control of the Edo shogunate, part of the tenryou area. In the 13th year of the Genroku era (1700), a government administration office was established and in the 2nd year of the Kyoho era (1717) Joge donated 20,000 rocks in sliver (histor- ically, 1 ‘rock’, ‘石‘ or ‘koku’ was the unit of agricultural output in rice required to feed a man for a year. So 20,000 rocks is enough land or rice to sustain 20,000 men for a year. During the Edo period, the value of land was based on ‘koku’, and all agricultural products were converted into this unit) to the Nakatsu clan (from what is now Oita Prefecture).
Until the end of the Edo period, Iwami Ginzan’s Oomori Prefectural Office ran a government branch office in Joge, which was very prosperous. It is believed that from the end of the Edo Period, until the Meiji Restoration, the funds (silver) from this office/town supported both regimes.
The financial strength of the local money lenders would eventually be used to improve welfare and ed- ucation in their home town. Without relying on the administration, the Gishu Foundation was established with their own funds. This action continues until the Heisei Era (The current emperor, ending in 2019), and influenced history for 100 years.
The memories of the towns prosperous days exist in the buildings, streets, and people’s minds. We would like to show the world this "Treasure of Nippon" (Nippon is the Japanese word for Japan), though Joge "tenryou" tourism.

Many guests with a deep interest in Japanese culture participate in a Joge "tenryou" tourism tour.

The town where the echo of "tenryou" lingers, Joge. Here, we introduce 7 keywords
which will make walking around town more enjoyable.