Before this mostly leek fields occupied the
heart of Imamiya village. This whole area
was once called ' Undeveloped forest never
even touched with a hatchet', and the south-west
side of Hirota-forest which had a view of
grasslands with several Ri's (Ri is 4 km)
expanse to Sumiyoshi.
In the middle of the Edo era, the sight to
see for those going on
a holiday started
to appear. Especially Sumiyoshi-kaido
(main
road) from Sumiyoshi-Shrine
to Sakai (later
developed into Kishu-Kaido)
was crowded with
people of various classes
like those visiting
Sumiyoshi-Shrine and Sankinkoutai
Daimiyo
(alternate attendances
by Shikoku Daimyo)
and townspeople.
As the seaside was much
nearer on hand at
that time, people could
command a sweeping
view from Sumiyoshi Bay
to Hyogo and Awaji
Island. In summer they
used to go seashell
digging, and to take a
rest at Hamaguri-Chaya
( clam-& tea-house
).
 |
| Shinsekai - 1848 |
To return to the main topics, Tenga-Chaya
(teahouse) located on the way to Sumiyoshi
was named from the rest place for Hideyoshi
Toyotomi when he was visiting Mandokoro (place
to do government affairs).
In the last years of the Edo era, there were
many stores that served medical tea to the
reople who could enjoy hot bath and meal
there as well ( same as leisure facilities
of the present day ) situated between the
previous Osaka Ball-park and Kizu and Imamiya.
Restaurants were found here and there. They
were throughout the rural area of Southern
Osaka and scenic spots.
However, until the modern period from Shinsekai
to Imamiya was only wasteland and rice fields.
But in old Manyo Period Osaka seems to have
been a part of ' Nago-sea' where they could
see white-sand, green pine-trees, shore,
island and hills, and were sung and reputed
by old poets and Sumie-drawers.
