Matoya Bay

An inlet located in the center of the eastern end of the Shima Peninsula in central-eastern Mie Prefecture. It is a typical ria bay that cuts deeply from east to west, with a width of 1.1 kilometers at the mouth and a depth of 9.3 kilometers. The narrow entrance opens out towards the Enshu Nada Sea, but the wide middle means that it has been used as a refuge port and a port to wait out the wind since the days of sailing ships, and Watakano Island in the bay and Matoya on the opposite shore prospered with prostitutes called "hashirigane." Pearl and oyster farming rafts can be found within the bay, and it is especially famous as a producer of sterile Matoya oysters. The inner part of the bay is called Izo-no-ura, where eel and oyster farming is thriving. The Kamiji River and the Ikeda River flow into the innermost part of the bay, creating an alluvial plain, where the central settlement of Isobe Town in Shima City and Izawanomiya Shrine, known for its rice planting rituals, are located. The bay is surrounded by gentle hills, and the beautiful scenery of Ise-Shima National Park, including the white square lighthouse at Anorizaki at the mouth of the bay, is open to the public, and there are hotels, villas, golf courses, and other facilities.

[Tatsuo Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

三重県中東部、志摩半島(しまはんとう)の東端中央部にある湾入。東から西へ深く切れ込んだ典型的なリアス式湾入で、湾口の幅1.1キロメートル、奥行9.3キロメートル。入口は遠州灘(えんしゅうなだ)に向かって開くが狭く、中が広いので帆船時代から避難港、風待ち港として利用され、湾内の渡鹿野(わたかの)島や対岸の的矢には「はしりがね」とよばれた遊女がいて栄えた。湾内は真珠やカキの養殖筏(いかだ)が浮かび、とくに無菌の的矢カキの産地として有名。湾の奥は伊雑(いぞう)ノ浦とよばれ、ウナギ、カキの養殖が盛ん。湾の最奥に神路(かみじ)川、池田川が流入して沖積地をつくり、志摩市磯部(いそべ)町の中心集落や神宮の御田植神事で知られる伊雑宮(いざわのみや)がある。湾の周辺は緩やかな丘陵で、湾口の安乗(あのり)崎の白い四角い灯台など伊勢(いせ)志摩国立公園の美しい景観が開け、ホテル、別荘地、ゴルフ場などがある。

［伊藤達雄］

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