🗺️ Masuda Old Street

The Masuda area was once one of the most prosperous commercial districts in Akita Prefecture and is also known for its heavy snowfall. Today, it still retains a unique architectural style called "Ukurō." Along the "Masuda Nakana Shichinichimachi Street," there are townhouses from the Meiji to Showa periods, conveying the prosperity of Masuda in the past. The term "Ukurō," as the name suggests, refers to warehouses located within residential homes. On both sides of the street, the land of the merchants features narrow and deep rectangular storefronts, with warehouses built behind the main houses facing the street. To prevent snow accumulation, the warehouses have roofs connected to the main houses and are enclosed by walls, allowing passage between the warehouses without going outside. This has led to the development of a unique architectural style characteristic of snowy regions. The warehouses on Masuda Old Street are generally divided into bunkō-sō (warehouses used for storage) and zashiki-sō (warehouses used as living spaces). Many of the inner warehouses are open for public viewing, allowing visitors to understand the life wisdom nurtured by the snowy country and the beauty of their functionality.

The thick-walled storehouses are unique structures found in heavy snowfall areas. The interiors are mostly designed as living spaces with tatami mat rooms. They have been designated as an important traditional building preservation area by the government. The warehouses open for public visits are concentrated along "Masuda Nakashichinichicho Street."