🗺️ Mie Prefectural Naval Base Ruins三重津海軍所跡

The Mie津 Naval Base Ruins have been registered as one of the components of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site "Meiji Industrial Revolution Heritage: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding, and Coal Mining in Japan." It served as a Western-style naval base for the Saga Domain during the late Edo period, where ship repairs and construction took place. The wooden structures of the dry dock, which combines Western and Japanese technologies, are the oldest existing in Japan. Additionally, the "Sano Takanori and Mie津 Naval Base Ruins History Museum" was renovated and reopened in September 2021. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the achievements of Sano Takanori, who made significant contributions to Japan's modernization, including the establishment of the Mie津 Naval Base and the precursor to the Japanese Red Cross, the Hakuaisha. A partial model of the preserved wooden structure of the dry dock, created to original dimensions, is on display, along with a large screen showcasing powerful images that explain the scenes of that time, which should not be missed. In addition to the free equipment (iPads) available for loan inside the museum, visitors can also install the free guide app "Reki Navi" on their personal smartphones or tablets to access detailed explanations and view composite images of the historical site.

In 2021, the "Sano Tsunetomi Memorial Museum" was renovated and reopened as the "Sano Tsunetomi and the Historical Museum of the Mie-Tsu Naval Base Ruins." A portion of the wooden remains of the sunken dry dock has been recreated in its original size. Japan's oldest dry dock, with its advanced technology at the time, is truly impressive. It traces the footsteps of Sano Tsunetomi, one of the Seven Wise Men of Saga, who contributed greatly to the establishment of the Mie-Tsu Naval Base.