Offshore route - Okinori-koro

… Until the mid-17th century, when westward shipping was established, the Seto Inland Sea was dominated by land routes along the Sanyo coast, and port towns such as Shimonoseki, Onomichi, Tomo, Kasaoka, Shimotsui, and Ushimado flourished for trading goods and waiting for favorable tides and winds. After that, offshore routes that weave between islands became the norm, and port towns such as Kinoe (Osakikamijima), Mitarai (Osakishimojima), and Karouto (Kurahashijima) developed. After the Meiji period, some coastal routes were abolished due to the development of railways, and many small port towns declined after large steamships became widespread. …

*Some of the terminology used in reference to "offshore routes" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…　瀬戸内海では17世紀半ばに西廻海運が整えられるまでは，山陽沿岸を通る地乗り航路が中心で，物資の交易，潮待ち，風待ちのため下関，尾道，鞆（とも），笠岡，下津井，牛窓などの港町が栄えた。それ以降は島嶼部を縫う沖乗り航路が主となり，木江（きのえ）(大崎上島)，御手洗（みたらい）(大崎下島)，鹿老渡（かろうと）(倉橋島)などの港町が発達した。明治以降は鉄道の発達によって沿岸航路が廃止されたところもあり，大型の汽船が普及してからは小規模な港町の多くは衰退した。…

※「沖乗り航路」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報