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A retro townscape lined with merchant houses from the mid-Edo period to the early Showa period, perfect for a leisurely stroll.
Wakimachi in Mima City began as a castle town during the Sengoku period and later flourished in the mid-Edo period as a distribution hub for indigo, which was widely produced at the time. Its townscape, preserving traces of the early modern and modern eras, extends for approx. 400 m and has a distinctive atmosphere.
The town still has 85 residences built from the mid-Edo period to the early Showa period, mainly from the Meiji period. The oldest dates to Hoei 4 (1707), giving the area significant historical value, and it has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. A major feature of the townscape is the “udatsu” built between the first-floor roof and the second-floor roof of the houses. Early udatsu were built as fire walls to prevent fires from spreading to neighboring homes, but because they were costly, they gradually became strongly associated with decoration symbolizing wealth and status.
Visitors can tour the interior of the Yoshida Residence, the mansion of a wealthy merchant who made his fortune through indigo. Five buildings remain on the approx. 1,980-square-meter grounds, offering a glimpse of how prosperous merchants were at the time. For a break during your walk, stop by a restaurant or café renovated from an old private home, or visit the tourism exchange center.
Traditional buildings from the Edo to Showa periods line the street
The “udatsu” at both ends of the machiya townhouses are symbols of wealth
The town is also atmospheric at night, showing a different side from daytime
Some reviews are AI-translated.
Udatsu Old Street has a more quiet, low-key feel. It’s not the kind of lively tourist area you might expect, and that’s exactly why it preserves such an authentic historic atmosphere.
The white walls on both sides and the distinctive “udatsu” roof ridges really stand out. If you look closely, you can see they were actually a symbol of wealth in the past.
