A Name Reflecting Ama Town’s History and Culture
The name “Jokyu Kaido” refers to the Jokyu Disturbance, a major political conflict in medieval Japan that ultimately led to Emperor Go-Toba being exiled to the Oki Islands.
“Kinnyamonya”, meanwhile, is the name of a traditional folk song that originated in Ama Town. The song has become a symbol of the island’s local culture and is also associated with the annual summer Kinnyamonya Festival.
By combining these two names, the center expresses two important aspects of Ama Town: its deep historical connection with Emperor Go-Toba and the Jokyu era, and its lively tradition of local folk culture.
A Warm and Convenient Portside Facility
The center is housed in a welcoming two-story wooden building designed to blend naturally with the harbor surroundings. Its location immediately beside Hishiura Port makes it especially convenient for travelers arriving by ferry or high-speed boat.
Inside, the tourist information center provides information about sightseeing destinations throughout Ama Town, transportation options, local attractions, and recommended places to visit. The facility also serves as a departure and arrival point for local buses and taxis, making it a practical transportation hub for exploring the island.
Discover Local Specialties and Island Cuisine
One of the highlights of the center is the local specialty shop known as Shima-ja Joshiki-ten. The shop offers a selection of foods and products that showcase the distinctive character of Ama Town.
Popular products include sazae curry, a curry featuring the rich flavor of turban sea snail, as well as flavorful seasonings such as flying-fish salt and Japanese pepper salt. Visitors can also find Fukugi tea, a fragrant herbal tea inspired by the natural environment of the island.
The center also includes a fish shop operated directly by the local fisheries cooperative. Fresh seafood landed that day is displayed for sale, offering visitors a chance to experience the abundance of the surrounding seas.
Restaurants within the facility serve dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Sitting down for a meal while looking out over the harbor is a relaxing way to begin or end a day of sightseeing on Nakanoshima.
A Center for Regional Development
Jokyu Kaido Kinnyamonya Center opened in 2002 as a regional development facility following the opening of the third-sector Marine Port Hotel Ama in 1994.
Since its opening, the center has supported not only tourism but also the development of local industries. Several departments of Ama Town’s municipal administration, including those responsible for community exchange, local production and consumption, and industrial development, have been based within the facility.
This makes the center more than a tourist facility. It functions as a base for tourism, local industry, community development, and efforts to encourage people to settle in the area.
Its architecture has also received recognition. In 2003, the building received a Shimane Prefecture landscape award, reflecting its successful integration into the scenery of Hishiura’s harbor town.
The Ideal Starting Point for Exploring Ama Town
Because the center is located immediately beside Hishiura Port, visitors can begin exploring Ama Town almost as soon as they arrive. After stepping off the ferry, travelers can gather sightseeing information, arrange transportation, browse local products, or enjoy a meal without having to travel far.
It is equally useful at the end of a trip. Visitors can pick up local souvenirs and specialty foods before departing, or simply relax by the harbor while waiting for their boat.
Access to Jokyu Kaido Kinnyamonya Center
The center is located immediately beside Hishiura Port. Ferries and high-speed boats connect Hishiura Port with Shichirui Port and Sakai Port on the Shimane Peninsula, making the center easy to reach as soon as you arrive in Ama Town.
Its convenient location makes it a natural first stop for travelers beginning their exploration of Nakanoshima.
The Perfect Gateway to the Island Experience
Jokyu Kaido Kinnyamonya Center is much more than a transportation facility. It brings together Ama Town’s history, culture, local cuisine, products, tourism information, and community activities in one welcoming space.
The name itself recalls both the medieval history surrounding Emperor Go-Toba and the lively folk traditions represented by Kinnyamonya. Inside the center, visitors can discover island specialties, fresh seafood, local dishes, and practical information for exploring Nakanoshima.
For anyone arriving in Ama Town by ferry or high-speed boat, stopping here first is an excellent way to get oriented and begin discovering the distinctive character of the Oki Islands.