Station bell

[2] These post stations were located every 30 ri (16 kilometers) each providing between five and twenty messenger horses depending on the grade of the road.

[5] On urgent dispatches the ekishi would ride with the bells ringing in order to be able to change horses at any time of day or night without delay.

Attached to the nomination is a six-legged Chinese style chest bestowed by Emperor Kōkaku.

They are currently located in the Oki family treasure hall (億岐家宝物館, Oki-ke　Hōmotsu-kan) in Okinoshima.

Before World War II, the bells had been designated as National Treasure of Japan on April 30, 1935, but lost this status in the reorganisation of cultural property protection after the war when all previously designated National Treasures were demoted to Important Cultural Properties in 1950.