Masuda streets (Yokote City, Akita Prefecture)

Masuda's streets of elegant merchant houses

Yokote City is an area with some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan. In Masuda-machi, located in the southeastern part of the city, there was active business involving various materials such as for sericulture and leaf tobacco produced in the area from the Edo period to the Meiji period.

In December 2013, Masuda-machi, Yokote City was selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Nakananokamachi-dori street in the central area is lined with stores and houses mainly with gabled roofs built between the Meiji period to the 1950s-1960s. Behind the structures are storerooms that are concealed by being built inside a case. 

There are various structures of the storerooms depending on the time when they were built and their purpose. It is interesting to see those differences and the designs that utilize the advanced plastering techniques at the time. 

In each house, there are displays of rare items, furniture, and retro sundries unique to the area, which was a trading center for goods.

There is also a morning market, a cafe where you can enjoy local delicacies, and a sake brewery to enjoy along with the storeroom tour. 

Please come for a visit.


A thematic journey in the Tohoku region:Okuno Hosomichi・The History of Michinoku

General Information

Address
秋田県横手市増田町増田(中七日町通り)
Prices
Free
*Some houses have fees (from 200 yen)
*Some houses require reservations, so please check in advance
Opening Times
9:00-17:00 (Masuda Tourist Information Center "Hotaru")
Directions
About 10 minutes by car from JR Jumonji Station, about 15 minutes by car from the Jumonji IC on Yuzawa-Yokote Road
Car Park
Yes, 20 spots for regular cars (plus 6 spots for large cars), free
*There is also a municipal parking lot (free)
Official Website
https://www.city.yokote.lg.jp/tokusetsu/masuda/

Contact

Telephone Number
0182-45-5541
Fax Number
0182-45-2828

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