Historic Kyōmachi Street

Gold was discovered near Aikawa in 1596, turning a fishing village into a boomtown of 50,000 residents. Kyomachi Street ran through the heart of that city, connecting the magistrate's office to the mine entrance. The well-preserved wooden row houses along the street today date mostly to the early twentieth century, built as worker housing after the mine was sold to Mitsubishi. Many surrounding neighborhoods still carry names from the occupations of their former residents: salt-makers, miso-makers, grocers. An antique bell tower from 1712, restored in 1860, still marks the start and end of each day. In early June, the Yoi no Mai festival fills the lantern-lit street with folk dancing.