Yamanashi

Old Inns of Akasawa-Juku

Cultural Buildings Preservation District in Yamanashi

Cathy Cawood Oct 14, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>The iron roof belongs to Osakaya, and the tiles cover a small storehouse</p>

<p>A path leads down the slope past Osakaya Inn  </p>

<p>Musashiya now houses a soba restaurant - the only restaraunt in Akasawa-juku</p>

<p>Shimizuya is now an information center and rest space</p>

<p>After a struggle Osaka-ya finally closed its doors in 2000</p>

<p>The second floor of Shimizuya overlooks the village</p>

<p>I'm glad that these lovely old buildings are protected</p>

<p>Wooden shingles on this roof are in bad shape</p>

<p>Drinking water outside Kikuya Inn</p>

<p>An iron kettle hanging over a sunken hearth in Kikuya Inn</p>

<p>I liked the pattern on these sliding doors in Kikuya Inn</p>

<p>Low cloud obscured the view of the mountains from this upstairs window of Kikuya Inn</p>

<p>Meiji Period sign boards of Minobu-kou Buddhist study groups</p>

<p>More Minobu-kou signboards under the eaves of an old inn</p>

<p>A reminder that fire is a constant threat to these precious old wooden buildings</p>

In 1993 the village of Akasawa-juku in Hayakawa-cho, Yamanashi, was designated an 'Important Cultural Buildings Preservation District' because of its old wooden inns. The village stood on the Minobu Post Road, and once welcomed pilgrims traveling to sacred Mount Minobu and Mount Shichimen in the Edo Period. The inns also hosted Nichiren Buddhist study groups through the Meiji Period. Today only Edoya Inn still offers accommodation, but visitors can still enjoy the fine old buildings in their beautiful mountain setting.

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...