Yamanashi

Oct 14, 2015 - 1 min read

Old Inns of Akasawa-Juku

Cultural Buildings Preservation District in Yamanashi

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

The iron roof belongs to Osakaya, and the tiles cover a small storehouse

A path leads down the slope past Osakaya Inn

Musashiya now houses a soba restaurant - the only restaraunt in Akasawa-juku

Shimizuya is now an information center and rest space

After a struggle Osaka-ya finally closed its doors in 2000

The second floor of Shimizuya overlooks the village

I'm glad that these lovely old buildings are protected

Wooden shingles on this roof are in bad shape

Drinking water outside Kikuya Inn

An iron kettle hanging over a sunken hearth in Kikuya Inn

I liked the pattern on these sliding doors in Kikuya Inn

Low cloud obscured the view of the mountains from this upstairs window of Kikuya Inn

Meiji Period sign boards of Minobu-kou Buddhist study groups

More Minobu-kou signboards under the eaves of an old inn

A reminder that fire is a constant threat to these precious old wooden buildings

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.

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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Victoria Vlisides

Victoria Vlisides 9 years ago

Nice shots! Yamanashi is too beautiful... even when the weather is cloudy!

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Cathy Cawood

Cathy Cawood Photographer 9 years ago

Thanks, Victoria. I agree!

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