{"id":106504,"date":"2018-01-30T17:48:14","date_gmt":"2018-01-30T08:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=106504&lang=en"},"modified":"2022-09-20T10:17:35","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T01:17:35","slug":"mietsu-naval-dock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/mietsu-naval-dock\/","title":{"rendered":"Mietsu Naval Dock"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Dock Built to Compete with Foreign Powers<\/strong>
\nDuring Japan\u2019s period of isolation, when the only foreign countries permitted to trade with Japan were the Netherlands and China, soldiers from the domains of Saga and Fukuoka spent nearly 200 years standing guard at the port of Nagasaki, the sole gateway to Japan at that time. The Saga Domain was particularly wary of Western powers making inroads into Asia, so to ensure Japan could compete against such opponents, it set up a forge for casting iron cannons and a facility for manufacturing and repairing Western-style steamships.<\/p>\n

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In 1858, the Saga Domain built the Ofunate-Keikosho Naval Academy in Mietsu at the site of a small boat dock for the purpose of spreading the knowledge and skills acquired at the Shogunate\u2019s Nagasaki Naval Training Institute to the other samurai<\/em> of the Saga Domain. This marks the origin of the Mietsu Naval Dock.<\/p>\n

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\nThis aerial photograph showing the location of the Mietsu Naval Dock along the Hayatsue River. In the background, is the Ariake Sea.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Mietsu Naval Dock: Zones and Functions<\/strong>
\n\u2022 The Small Boat Dock Section: Site of the Ofunate-Keikosho Naval Academy before the Mietsu Naval Dock was built. The old land features can still be seen to this day.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Training Grounds Section: Site where samurai<\/em> of the Saga Domain learned about navigation, surveying techniques, and shipbuilding. At its peak, more than 300 samurai trained here.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Shipbuilding\/Repair Docks and Metal Working Section: Site used for maintaining and manufacturing the parts required to repair Western-style boats. There was also a dock used to bring in boats when they needed repair. The remains of Japan’s oldest western-style dry dock are preserved underground here.<\/p>\n

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\nExcavation revealed wooden timber used in the repair docks.<\/p>\n

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Features of the Mietsu Naval Dock<\/strong>
\nAt the time, the Japanese-style ships owned by the Saga Domain were about 20 meters long, but the Denry\u016bmaru, a steam warship purchased from the Dutch, was 45 meters long, making it too large for the Small Boat Dock. The Mietsu Naval Dock was built for the purpose of repairing large Western-style ships like this one. The dock was built with wood and dirt, using traditional Japanese building techniques, and it was designed to take advantage of a unique aspect of the Ariake Sea, namely, a six-meter difference between the high and low tides.<\/p>\n

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This entire area has been turned into Sano Memorial Park, which houses both the Mietsu Naval Dock, a historical site considered to be the origin of modern technology in Japan, and the Tsunetami Sano Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to the man who not only oversaw the construction of the Mietsu Naval Dock, but also founded the Japanese Red Cross Society.
\nThe remains of the dock have been left buried for preservation purposes.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Top Three Things to See at the Mietsu Naval Dock<\/strong>
\n1. See how Japan came to acquire a western-style navy at the end of the Edo period
\n2. See the fusion of western and existing Japanese technologies
\n3. See how the dock’s creators harnessed the natural power of the Ariake Sea<\/p>\n

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\nMietsu Scope<\/strong>
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Mietsu Naval Dock: Great for walking when the weather is good. Visit points of interest while listening to audio guidance. When you look through the Mietsu Scope, you\u2019ll find in front of you a panoramic view of the Mietsu Naval Dock as it looked about 160 years ago.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Rental counter: Mietsu Scope Reception Desk, 2nd floor, Tsunetami Sano Memorial Museum
\n\u2022 Hours available: 9:00~16:30
\n\u2022\u00a0You will need to present a driver\u2019s license, passport or other form of identification to borrow a Mietsu Scope.
\n\u2022 Languages available: English, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Mietsu Dome Theater<\/strong>
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On the first floor of the Tsunetami Sano Memorial Museum, you can watch a powerful five-minute video on the 6 m-diameter Dome Theater about the story of the Saga Domain and the construction of the Mietsu Naval Dock. (Subtitles are available in English, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Japanese.)<\/p>\n

You can also try out an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset at the counter in front of the Dome Theater. Here, you can view grand 360\u00b0 images of the bustling Mietsu Naval Dock as it looked 160 years ago.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Mietsu Naval Dock Time Cruise: See the World Heritage Site that Once was Here!<\/strong>
\nA smartphone app that lets you compare the past and the present of the Mietsu Naval Dock. A QR code at the Information Desk on the third floor of the Tsunetami Sano Memorial Museum also offers access to the app.<\/p>\n

Access <\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Mietsu Naval Dock<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Open: 9:00~17:00 (Mietsu Scope rental until 16:30)
\n\u2022 Closed: Mon. (or next day if Mon. falls on a hol.), year-end hol. (12\/29 ~ 1\/3)
\n\u2022 Free entrance (separate fee for some exhibitions)
\n\u2022 Tsunetami Sano Memorial Museum
\n\u2022 446-1 Hayatsuetsu, Kawasoe-machi, Saga<\/a>
\n\u2022 Official Web: http:\/\/mietsu-sekaiisan.jp\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Access:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Kyushu-Saga International Airport \u2192 10 min. by taxi or car rental
\n\u2022 Tenjin, Fukuoka \u2192 ride the Nishitetsu bus (Oki-shin Line) from Nishitetsu Yanagawa Sta. and get off at the last stop, Hayatsue bus stop (30 min. ride). 5-min. walk from there.
\n\u2022 By car \u2192 40 min. via Saga-Yamato IC on the Nagasaki Expressway<\/p>\n

Other Places to Visit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hungry? Try a Mietsu Naval Dog!<\/strong>
\nThe 60-cm Mietsu Naval Dog is about 1\/100 the size of the actual Mietsu Naval Dock. Only five dogs are available every day, so act fast! (\u00a51,480) It is modeled after the Ry\u014df\u016bmaru, Japan\u2019s first fully operational steamship. Also available in a single-serving size (\u00a5500).<\/p>\n

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Dai Dai Cafe<\/strong>
\n\u2022 11:00~19:00
\n\u2022 Closed: Tue.
\n\u2022 470 Hayatsuetsu, Kawasoe-machi, Saga<\/a> (1 min. walk from Tsunetami Sano Memorial Museum)
\n\u2022 080-3980-0232<\/p>\n

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Enjoy a wide range of local specialties!<\/strong>
\nChoose from a large selection of delicious Saga souvenirs, including locally brewed sake<\/em> in Arita ware and dried eel goby from the Ariake Sea.<\/p>\n

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Mietsu Miyage Hosu Mosu Kamosu<\/strong>
\n\u2022 10:00~17:30
\n\u2022 closed: Irregular
\n\u2022 470 Hayatsuetsu, Kawasoe-machi, Saga<\/a> (1 min. walk from Tsunetami Sano Memorial Museum)
\n\u2022 0952-37-1817
\n\u2022\u00a0https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hosumusukamosu\/<\/a><\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Chikugo River Lift Bridge Souvenir Shop<\/strong>
\nHere you can purchase more local goods, such as locally harvested seafood and seaweed and Saga\u2019s own Sagahonoka strawberries. Don\u2019t forget to check out the local seasonings, specialties, box lunches, and prepared foods.<\/p>\n

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Hashi-no-eki Doronpa<\/strong>
\n\u2022 9:30~18:00
\n\u2022 Closed: 12\/31 ~ 1\/3
\n\u2022 214-4 Tameshige, Morodomi-cho, Saga<\/a>
\n\u2022 0952-47-5209
\n\u2022 http:\/\/www.sagabai.com\/doronpa\/main\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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