🗺️ Wakasakura Town

In Wakakusa Town, there are many ancient buildings such as white earthen wall warehouses, which have been designated as an important traditional building preservation area by the Japanese government. To this day, the town retains the historical appearance of a prosperous post town. The old street is about 300 meters long, with a temple on one side and 20 warehouses of merchants with gabled roofs facing away from the temple on the other side. After a major fire during the Meiji era, these earthen wall warehouses were constructed in the narrow street to protect the temple in the area from fire damage. Strolling along the street, one can fully appreciate the historical charm of traditional white walls, red-tiled roofs, and cedar wood fences. Among them, the "仮屋街道" (Kariya Street) and "藏街道" (Kura Street) are collectively known as the Wakakusa Post Town area. A notable feature is the large eaves of the buildings called "仮屋" (Kariya). The eaves of all buildings along the street extend outward by 1.2 meters, which is a unique landscape characteristic of heavy snowfall areas. Until the early Showa period, Kariya Street was an arcade about 800 meters long, allowing people to walk without an umbrella even on snowy or rainy days. The clear streams flowing along both sides of the street were used for domestic water, clearing snow, and raising koi fish.

The streets overflowing with a nostalgic atmosphere offer a glimpse into the former prosperity of Sakurazaka. Along the old street, white clay-walled warehouses line up one after another. The "仮屋街道" (Kariya Street), characterized by its extended eaves, is also a popular photo spot. The street scenes of the important traditional architectural preservation area leave a lasting impression.