Still Meiji（明治）period、Shirakabe-tozokun(白壁土藏郡)

Shirakabe-tozokun(白壁土藏郡) looks just as it did in the old days.

Let’s take a journey backward through time.

Shirakabe-tozokun is the street in Kurayoshi city, Japan. This place is called Akagawara(赤瓦) as well. When you walk this street that looks just as it did in the old days, you feel as if just arrived in a time machine.

Most of stores in this street has been made since Meiji period (明治時代1868~1912).　

Shirakabe-tozokun makes for a very old atmosphere by white mud walls of plaster, black boards it was made out cedar and red roofs.

You can’t feel relax this way in the city.　

If you like taking pictures, this place is perfect for you! :)

There are nine big stores (number 1~11) in Akagawara.

But 4 and 9 is excluded from the number because Japanese think that is not good number.

No.1- Regional specialties / souvenir shop

No.2- Hakota doll (Kurayoshi doll) / Geta (Japanese wooden shoes)

No.3- ‘Nakano’ Bamboo craft shop

No.5- First floor : souvenir shop

      　　Second floor : café ‘Kura’ (you can try grind coffee in a millstone)

No.6 – ‘Kuwata’ soy sauce shop

No.7 – the head shop of brewery ‘Gensui’ (Kurayoshi liquor)

No.8 – First floor : souvenir shop ‘Furusato’    

       　　Second floor : soba(noodles) restaurant

No.10 – Information

      　　　 (You can check your luggage and rent bike or umbrella.)    

 

<Tip>

Shirakabe-tozokun is small place. But if you have Akagawara map, it is much easier to walk around. You can find Akagawara map at Information,

Kurayoshi St.

, anywhere in Kurayoshi.

Most shops in Akagawara close early. So you should go to there early.

If you walk around shops and ‘Tamagawa’ river, you will feel it would be an attractive place.

Shops usually open from 9:00 to 17:00 or 18:00.

But if you would like to go to soba restaurant, you should go there early.

Because soba restaurant close at 15:00.

This is retro exhibit hall.

The hall is very small.

But there are many old things and it is feast for the eyes.

Soba restaurant ‘Utsubukian’

The owner is very kind and the soup of soba is great.

These are like fishs, it is called ‘Taiyaki’ in Japan.

One package is 400yen.

If you buy ‘Taiyaki’, you can drink free coffee or tea in a store.

Kind-hearted people in Kurayoshi!! :)