Masuda Nakananokamachi-dori

Masuda, which prospered as one of the most successful business towns in Akita, still has Uchigura, a unique architectural style in the snowy region. Nakananokamachi Street is lined with businessmen’s homes built from Meiji to Showa Periods, leaving the prosperous heritage of Masuda to this day.

Uchigura means a storehouse inside a home. Each business property is in a rectangle shape with a narrow entrance leading to a deep rear. Tha main house faced the street and a storehouse was built in the back. Over the years, to deal with deep snow, the storehouse became connected with a roof and walls, making it possible to come into the storehouse without going outside. Uchigura is unique to the snowy region.

Uchigura has two kinds - the storage unit, Bunkogura, and Zashikigura, a living space. There are quite a few Uchigura open to the public, allowing you to see the functional beauty and wisdom of snowy regions.