Sagami Province facts for kids
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Sagami Province (相模国 (Sagami no kuni)) was a very old region in Japan. It was located in what is now the central and western part of Kanagawa Prefecture. People sometimes called it Sōshū (error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help)).
This historical area shared its borders with Izu, Musashi, and Suruga provinces. Sagami also had a long coastline along the Pacific Ocean, which included the beautiful Sagami Bay. The main city, or ancient capital, of Sagami Province was located near the modern city of Hiratsuka.
A Look Back: History of Sagami
Sagami was one of the first provinces created in Japan. This happened during the Nara period, which was a long time ago. It was set up under a set of rules called the Taihō Code. These rules helped organize the country.
Later, during the Edo period, an important road called the Tōkaidō road ran through Sagami. This road was like a highway connecting the big cities of Kyoto and Edo (which is now Tokyo). Many travelers and goods passed through Sagami on this route.
In the 1870s, during the Meiji period, Japan changed how it was organized. The old provinces, like Sagami, were turned into new areas called prefectures. In 1876, all of Sagami Province became part of the new Kanagawa Prefecture.
Years later, in 1906, a large ship was named after this historic region. The Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Sagami carried the province's name.
Important Shrines
One very important place in Sagami Province was the Samukawa jinja. This was the main Shinto shrine for the area. Shinto shrines are places of worship in Japan.
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