Travel by Sea and Learn the History of the Local Stone

During this tour, you will visit various islands located in the Seto Inland Sea while delving into the stories of the stones and those who lived alongside them.
The Bisan Islands are located between the prefectures of Okayama and Kagawa. The granite and stonemasonry techniques from these islands have long supported Japanese architecture. The stones from these islands have been used across many architectural structures, including the walls of Osaka Castle, and following the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912), the Bank of Japan headquarters, Tokyo Station, and the Gojō Ōhashi bridge.

Why was quarrying so popular? The answer to that question can be found in the sea. To the islanders, the sea was a road that connected them to various parts of the country. The stones were extracted from the mountains, brought down to the shore, and loaded onto ships. They then traveled across the Seto Inland Sea and were transported all over the nation.

If you listen carefully, you’ll find that the remaining stones in the islands are not only a beautiful feature, but that they also carry the memories of the people who lived here. The people here were connected to the ocean through stone, and we hope that this journey will give you a new perspective on this relationship.