Matsuyama, Historic preservation district in Uda, Japan
Matsuyama is a historic preservation district in Uda featuring traditional merchant houses with unusually wide street-facing facades and deep interior spaces. These buildings follow a distinctive pattern that reflects the former prosperity and commercial structure of the area.
The area originated as a castle town during the Azuchi-Momoyama period under Hidenaga, the younger brother of Hideyoshi. It later transformed into a thriving commercial hub, with its architecture documenting the era of economic growth.
The district is defined by traditional merchant residences with distinctive wide street-facing fronts that dominate the streetscape. This architectural style reflects how traders and their families lived and worked in this commercial center for centuries.
The district can be reached by bus from Haibara Station on the Kintetsu Line via the Ouda stop. It is best explored on foot, so wear comfortable shoes to walk through the traditional streets and view the houses.
The district is home to a former medicinal herb garden from the mid-Edo period, recognized as Japan's oldest private medicinal plant collection. This botanical legacy reveals historical connections between commerce, healing practices, and daily life in the town.
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