Wakasa Town Wakasa (Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings)

Overview

Wakasa Town Wakasa originated as a castle town surrounding Wakasa Onigajo Castle. During the Edo period, it developed as a post town on the Wakasa Road and Ise Road, which connected Tottori and Himeji. Although it suffered from three major fires in the Meiji era, the reconstruction plan of 1885 incorporated fire prevention measures, resulting in the beautiful townscape seen today. The white-walled storehouses (Shirakabe Dozogun) create a unique landscape due to the post-fire ban on buildings other than storehouses. Kariya Street is a unique architectural style specific to Wakasa-juku, a heavy snowfall area, where houses are set back from the road, and eaves are provided between the stream and the houses. Wakasa Station is a valuable reminder of the atmosphere of a terminal station in the early Showa era. Wakasa Shrine has long been revered as "Matsugami Daimyojin," and its grounds are lined with giant trees that are hundreds of years old. Wakasa Bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge built in the early Showa era, and its beautiful design has been highly praised by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. Take a tour of these attractions and enjoy the history, culture, and nature of Wakasa.