Old Ōuchi Manor
Overlooking Ganryūjima
A fine, elegant manor situated on a cliffside hill overlooking Shimonoseki. The Old Ōuchi Manor is not so old as all that, having been built only a few centuries ago. Instead, the name refers to the fact that it was owned by the Ōuchi Clan until its last member vanished at the same time as Mōri Motonari took control of Shimonoseki. The manor was designed and decorated to Ōuchi Yoshitaka's tastes. Despite being attached to one of the largest international ports in the country, the Old Ōuchi Manor stands out with its refined, Japanese style. The one exception to this is the adjoining Christian chapel, built as a concession to welcome the many Sancta Sedes missionaries who visit Shimonoseki.
Following Mōri seizure of the port, the Old Ōuchi Manor has not changed much. The only outward concession to its new ownership is the replacement of Ōuchi banners with ones flying the Kobayakawa mon. The manor's previous owner no longer seems to be present, but Motonari has also not taken the property herself or offered it to any of her retainers. A conspicuous lack of traffic up the cliffside road, which used to see heavy use, is as much a hallmark of Shimonoseki's changing times as Motonari's great tournament.
Type
Manor house / Meeting hall
Parent Location
Owning Organization
Related Report (Secondary Locations)
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