🗺️ Black Wall Square黒壁スクエア

Nagahama City in Shiga Prefecture was the first castle town granted to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (羽柴秀吉) after he was appointed as a daimyo. From there, he established a foothold and gradually expanded his influence. The town later developed into the core area of the northern shore of Lake Biwa, thriving due to its location at the transportation hub of the "Kita-Kuni Street" and the front town of "Ootsu-ji (大通寺, Nagahama Gobo)." From 1965 to the early 1970s, Nagahama City experienced a period of decline, and the once-bustling city center gradually fell into hollowing out. In response, local small businesses collectively established a third-party company called "K.K. Kurokabe" to revitalize the local industry with a focus on glass craftsmanship, aiming to preserve the architectural characteristics of the district and invigorate the community. After restoration and renovation, they created a comprehensive tourist area named "Kurokabe Square." Kurokabe Square now houses numerous glass shops, DIY experience classrooms, and various dining establishments, and has become a famous tourist destination attracting over 2 million visitors annually. The core facility of Kurokabe Square is the "Kurokabe Glass Museum (黒壁1号館)." This is a Western-style building with heavy black walls, constructed in 1900 as the Nagahama branch of the "130th National Bank." In 1989, it was renovated to showcase and sell over 30,000 pieces of domestic and international glass crafts. The Kurokabe Glass Museum has now expanded to 22 stores, including directly operated and collaborative shops. In addition to selling glass products, it also features various DIY experience classrooms related to glass craftsmanship and a wide variety of shops.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Shiga Prefecture. A beautiful streetscape made up of traditional black-walled buildings, with countless photo spots. Whether strolling through the town or experiencing various handmade crafts, there's plenty of fun to be had.