This guided walking tour explores Masuda Town in Akita, which prospered as a merchant town during the Edo period. Visitors can tour the "Kura" (storehouses) inside wealthy merchants' mansions, which are rare and still inhabited. The tour highlights the detailed decorations such as white plaster and lacquered interiors.
Explore Masuda Town, a National Preservation District, and experience authentic Edo-period merchant culture. - Visit "Uchi-gura" (storehouses built inside mansions), a unique and rare architectural feature even in Japan. - An English-speaking guide accompanies the tour.
This guided tour immerses you in the history of Masuda, a prosperous Edo-period merchant town. You will walk through the preservation district and explore 2 to 3 private mansions. The highlight is the Uchi-gura (inner storehouses), which are richly decorated with white plaster and polished black lacquer, reflecting the immense wealth and aesthetic sense of the former owners. The English-speaking guide will share stories about the merchant life, the town's role as a transportation hub, and the significance of these incredibly well-preserved cultural assets.
Only reservations for adults/mixed groups are accepted; child-only reservations are not allowed. - Smoking and drinking are prohibited inside the mansions. - The tour involves walking and using stairs; it is not suitable for individuals with mobility impairments, heart problems, or other serious medical conditions.