Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture located at 30 minutes by train from the center of Tokyo is a well known historic town.
Since there still remains an old looking area reminiscent of the streets of "Edo", or old Tokyo, they called this town "Little Edo".
(Above: Street lined with "Kurazukuri" buildings)
(Above: "Toki-no-kane", the bell tower in the Edo period)
What made Kawagoe famous are the majestic merchant houses made of thick earthen wall which is called "Kurazukuri style".
Although this style was traditionally used for storehouses, it became popular as a fire resistant architecture after several great fires.
(Above: The Osawa Residence. "Kurazukuri" style merchant house built in the Edo period (1792)
And the construction of "Kurazukuri" that consists of shop and residence was promoted during the Edo period.
Today, most of them disappeared. In Kawagoe, about twenty "Kurazukuri" buildings have been preserved and the main street is lined with them.
I am interested in how they utilized old buildings. Usually they are used as museums or memorial houses. Here these old "Kurazukuri" are used as modern shops keeping the exterior appearance and remodeling the interior. I think it is a nice way to make the most of old buildings.
(Above: Harmony between an old "Kurazukuri" and a new one)
There is another popular tourist spot called the confectionery row near the "Kurazukuri" street. There are several tens of vendors along the row and they sell old-fashioned sweets. This small street is chosen as one of "The 100 Sites of Good Fragrance of Japan" by the Ministry of the Environment.
(Above: Confectionery row)
For inquiries: www.koedo.or.jp
---to be continued---