Strategic Port and Stronghold of Northern Koshikijima

The Satsuma domain was surrounded on three sides by sea, so establishing Fumoto as naval defenses was highly important. Sato Fumoto is in the northern part of Koshikijima, and island off the west coast of mainland Kagoshima. During the Edo period, Sato Fumoto was used as a lookout for Chinese and Dutch ships heading for Nagasaki to trade. The large round stones from the nearby beach used to create the walls around the town are particularly noteworthy. One section of the samurai houses can be seen from the observation deck located on top of the hill where the medieval mountain fort once stood.