Murakami Downtown

Murakami Downtown

Murakami is located in the northern part of Niigata Prefecture. Murakami was developed after Murakami Castle was built in the early 16th century by HONJYO Tokinaga (? - 1609) . Murakami was the capital of Murakami Domain during the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) . A historical district is located at the downtown Murakami and remains a good atmosphere as it was in the Edo Age.

If you walk to the ruins of Murakami Castle from Murakami Station, you will walk through Teramachi Town, where many temples are located. Jyonenji Temple is one of temples in Teramachi Town.

At Jyonenji Temple, the grave of MANABE Akifusa (1666 - 1720) is located. MANABE Akifusa was a feudal lord of Murakami Domain.

Black board fences continue along a narrow street. The black board fences make the atmosphere as it was in the Edo Age.

You will arrive at Anzenji Temple.

Anzenji Temple was originally built in 1655. The temple gate was built in 1712. This is the oldest building in Murakami.

To the east from Anzenji Temple, a couple of traditional merchant houses are located. This area is the downtown Murakami. The below left picture shows "Izutsuya", which is a traditional Japanese style hotel, "Ryokan". In 1889, MATSUO Basho, who was a very well-known "Haiku" poet in Japan, stayed at this hotel on his travel of "Okuno-Hosomichi".

If you walk to the south from "Izutsuya", you will see "Uoya" shop.

"Uoya" processes "Shiohiki-Jyake" Salmons and sells them. "Shiohiki-Jyake" Salmons are specialty of Murakami. The processing area of salmons at "Uoya" is open for the public. When I visited in autumn, there were a lot of hanged salmons for drying.

To the east of the downtown Murakami, a couple of "Samurai" residences remain. A thatched roofed house building was really impressive.

WAKABAYASHI Residence is one of such "Samurai" residence. The residence was built more than two hundred years ago. WAKABAYASHI family was a middle class retainer of Murakami Domain.

WAKABAYASHI residence remain an atmosphere during the Edo Age as it was.

"Shiohiki-Jyake" salmons were also hanged at WAKABAYASHI Residence.

A fireside was in use at WAKABAYASHI Residence. Firesides were commonly used in Japan, because smoke from a fireside protects a thatched roof. WAKABAYASHI Residence is designated as an important property of Japan.

In Murakami, historical temples, traditional merchant houses and Samurai residences remain and keep a good atmosphere. Murakami is a good travel destination. If you visit Murakmi, autumn is recommended.

How to get there
From Tokyo, you will take a Jyoetsu Shinkansen to Niigata, then take a local train to Murakami on the JR Hakushin Line. Downtown Murakami is walking distance from Murakami Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Murakami Castle
Ruins of Shibata Castle
Ojiya Downtown
Ruins of Kasugayama Castle