FUKUSHIMA

The Warehouses of Kitakata

Through Kitakata City, take a step back into the Meiji and Taisho eras

With more than 4,000 kura (traditional storehouses) still standing, Kitakata City is a living testament to Edo-period tradition.

Culture & Arts Experience & Activities

Access

Visitors to this traditional townscape may traverse streets that possess an aura of several centuries past, with the architectural beauty of kura captivating all who wander through.

Flourishing during the Edo period as a post town that connected Wakamatsu Castle with Yonezawa, Kitakata City is a townscape that is steeped in historical charm. A major point of pride for the community is the upkeep of their more than 4,000 kura (traditional storehouses). These structures are synonymous with a Japan long since passed, and yet, Kitakata City is keeping this flame of reverence well-lit. From the Meiji and Taisho eras, when the kura were mainly utilized as storehouses for the booming local brewing and lacquerware industries, these testaments to tradition became a local symbol of pride.

Fast forward to the modern day, with many of these traditional storehouses still standing and operating, as Kitakata City not only maintains these mementos to the past, but also celebrates their architectural intricacies. It is through Kitakata Kura no Sato, a site of 4,500 square meters, that guests can experience many of the traditions of kura, including shop warehouses, miso storehouses, grain warehouses, and a former village headman’s curved-roof farmhouse. Each of the warehouses on display acts as an exhibition space, showcasing different themes of Edo tradition and historical resource management. It is here that guests can learn about the history and importance of kura before heading off to wander the rest of this picturesque townscape, taking in the rest of the kura that are dotted throughout the area.

A visit to Kitakata City will undoubtedly imbue a sense of nostalgia within all those who walk its storied streets, even in those who are visiting for the first time.

Address

2-109 Oshikiri, Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture

Phone number

+81-241-22-6592

Business hours

9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Last admission: 4:30 pm)

Holiday

December 29 – January 3

WEB site

http://www.furusatosinkou.co.jp/sato/

Digital Map