Ōuchi-juku, Traditional post town in Shimogo, Japan
Ōuchi-juku is a former post station in Shimogo with around 30 traditional houses topped with steep thatched roofing arranged in a straight line along a historic mountain trade route. The buildings display characteristic Edo-period features and are designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
The settlement was established as a post station in 1643 during the Edo period, serving as an important rest point for travelers and feudal lords on the route between Aizu and Nikko regions. Its role declined after 1884 when new transportation routes bypassed the area, allowing the Edo-period structures to remain intact.
The village retains its role as a living community where residents inhabit the historic structures and maintain daily practices connected to mountain life and local food traditions. Walking through reveals how the street functions as both a residential space and a gathering place for visitors interested in Edo-period life.
The street is easy to walk through on foot and most houses are visible from the path, with some open entrances offering views inside the structures. Numerous restaurants and small shops line the route, creating natural stopping points along your walk.
A large water storage system with stone channels runs along the street, supplying the houses from nearby mountain springs. The system remains functional today and shows how cleverly residents engineered their water supply from the surrounding terrain.
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