Take a pleasant stroll around Kura no Machi in Nikko Part 1

This delightful model course will first take you around Kura-no-Machi, a town which prospered as a popular rest stop for travelers to and from Edo (Tokyo). Then it will lead you to Nikko, home to several World Heritage shrines and temples and its surrounding natural beauty that dramatically changes from season to season. The course wraps up with a visit to Nikko’s hot spring village.

The point of departure is close to famous Tokyo sightseeing spots like Sensoji Temple and the Tokyo Skytree.

The nearest station to Kura-no-Machi is Tochigi Station. Kura-no-Machi is only a 10-15 minute walk from the station’s north gate.

Originally a rest town for travelers on the road to and from Edo, Kura-no-Machi later flourished as a merchant town next to an important river trade route from Edo. The many traditional Japanese storehouses that remain provide a snapshot of the town’s historic past.

The town’s tourist center not only features souvenir shops and restaurants; the sightseeing information it provides makes it a great place to start your tour of Kura-no-Machi.

During the Edo period, Uzuma River was an important trade route for transporting goods from Edo, which led to Kura-no-Machi becoming a merchant town. Visitors may take a pleasure boat ride on the river and take in the sights as if they were transported back in time to the Edo period.

Three earthen-walled storehouses built roughly 200 years ago were renovated into this art museum, which plays host to a unique interior atmosphere.

The House of Okada is a family with a long history, who gained prominence in the Edo period as the governor of Kura-no-Machi and its surrounding areas. A vast 4,000m² area owned by the family with multiple structures still remain.