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Murata Town's Kuranomachi Road connects Sendai and Murata in Yamagata, and has historically been a prosperous commercial area. The main products traded here are safflower, an important ingredient in dyes and lipsticks. Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of safflower, which has brought significant wealth through commercial transactions to Edo and the upper regions. The central area of the town still retains the majestic streetscape of storehouses and paired large gates, telling the story of its former glory. Due to this elegant and tranquil streetscape, it is known as the "Little Kyoto of Mutsu," and in 2014, it was designated as Miyagi Prefecture's first Important Traditional Building Preservation District.
Notable facilities open for public viewing include the "YAMASHO Memorial Museum," a mansion of one of the town's wealthiest families, and the "YAMANI Tourist Center," which has transformed from a storehouse. Annual events such as the "Miyagi Murata Town Kura Pottery Market" and "Hotei Festival" in October, along with the "Murata Town Hina Matsuri" in March, make the entire town more lively and vibrant.
