What to know
Kakunodate was founded as a castle town in 1620 under the rule of local lord Ashina Yoshikatsu. The town was carefully planned with a clear separation between the samurai quarter and the merchant district. While the samurai area draws most visitors, the merchant district also boasts intriguing historic buildings and a rich past.
The standout building here is the Ando Jozo Miso storehouse and shop. This Meiji-era brick warehouse is beautifully preserved, and the shop sells miso and soy sauce made using the same traditional methods for over 150 years. It attracts food lovers from all over Japan.
Scattered among the more modern structures in this part of town are a few other historic buildings, many of which are shops selling cherry bark crafts. Local artisans turn cherry bark into small mirrors, jewelry boxes, and furniture. Known as "kabazaiku", this craft dates back to a Kakunodate samurai named Fujimura Hikoroku, who popularized it among his neighbors.
Nishinomiya House is another important site, located next to the merchant district in a smaller samurai zone. Once the home of the wealthy Nishinomiya family and formerly open to tourists, the complex has recently been converted into a unique hotel.
The merchant district lies south of the samurai quarter. It is a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride from JR Kakunodate Station.
How to get to and around Kakunodate
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Original name
- Merchant District
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.