🗺️ Nawate Shopping Streetなわて通り

The Rope Hand Shopping Street is about a 10-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station, featuring a long row of unique shops in a nagaya (traditional townhouses) layout. The shops are built along the banks of the Nakanotaba River, and from a distance, they appear "thin and long like a rope," hence the name "Rope Hand." This area prospered as it served as the approach to the Shikazuk Shrine, built in 1879, and it attracts many visitors due to its proximity to Matsumoto Castle. The old street, approximately 150 meters long, is lined with wooden nagaya-style houses, resembling scenes from a historical drama. Walking along the old street gives a feeling of time travel. There are various shops such as old-fashioned hardware stores, antique shops, candy stores, and general goods stores, making it a delightful place to explore. It is said that a long time ago, the Nakanotaba River was home to a large number of "river deer frogs," which can only survive in clear streams. As a result, frogs became a symbol of the street, and Rope Hand Shopping Street is also nicknamed "Frog Street." In the central area of the street, there is a shrine dedicated to "Frog Daimyojin," and even today, cute frog statues can be seen throughout the old street.

It is only a 10-minute walk from JR Matsubashi Station, and vehicles are prohibited on the street, making it a safe place to stroll and shop. The street is lined with various unique shops, including old-fashioned hardware stores, antique shops, and trendy boutiques. Frogs are the symbol of the shopping street, and there is a shrine dedicated to the Frog Daimyojin, along with many cute frog statues throughout the area.