Old Town with Cute Red-and-White Goldfish Lanterns
Not far from Iwakuni is Yanai, a city with a rich cultural history that’s still being preserved today. In Yanai City, you can experience an authentic Edo Period townscape, where traditional white-walled merchant houses and shops line the street, and patronize several famous facilities, some of which have been in operation since Japan’s feudal age. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the promenade of this officially recognized traditional townscape.
This street is famous for its traditional Edo era architecture. Three centuries old and still standing, Muroya no En is one of the historic buildings you can enter here. It was formerly an oil shop and now displays actual items used in daily life during the Edo Period, as well as records preserved from that time.
In operation from the early 1800s to the present day, Sagawa Shoyu Kura is where you can get your hands on Yanai’s specialty—a sweet soy sauce called kanro shoyu. Legend has it that when this delicacy was first presented to a daimyo (warlord) of the Iwakuni domain, he likened it to a sweet nectar in praise.
As well as being famous for its traditional soy sauce factory, Yanai is also well known for its beautifully preserved “Shirakabe no Machi” or “White-walled Town”. The whitewashed buildings here are adorned with a number of cute red-and-white goldfish lanterns, a famous local handicraft with a history that stretches back to the Edo Period. The town offers a 30-minute workshop where you can make your very own goldfish lantern to take home, and it’s a really fun and easy activity that people of all ages can enjoy.
Yanai and Iwakuni are two historic places in Yamaguchi prefecture filled with a whole lot of traditional beauty and proud local customs. A trip to the area will leave you hungry for more adventure.
This street is famous for its traditional Edo era architecture. Three centuries old and still standing, Muroya no En is one of the historic buildings you can enter here. It was formerly an oil shop and now displays actual items used in daily life during the Edo Period, as well as records preserved from that time.
In operation from the early 1800s to the present day, Sagawa Shoyu Kura is where you can get your hands on Yanai’s specialty—a sweet soy sauce called kanro shoyu. Legend has it that when this delicacy was first presented to a daimyo (warlord) of the Iwakuni domain, he likened it to a sweet nectar in praise.
As well as being famous for its traditional soy sauce factory, Yanai is also well known for its beautifully preserved “Shirakabe no Machi” or “White-walled Town”. The whitewashed buildings here are adorned with a number of cute red-and-white goldfish lanterns, a famous local handicraft with a history that stretches back to the Edo Period. The town offers a 30-minute workshop where you can make your very own goldfish lantern to take home, and it’s a really fun and easy activity that people of all ages can enjoy.
Yanai and Iwakuni are two historic places in Yamaguchi prefecture filled with a whole lot of traditional beauty and proud local customs. A trip to the area will leave you hungry for more adventure.
