Uchiko, Historical merchant town in Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Uchiko is a merchant town in Ehime Prefecture featuring the Yokaichi and Gokoku districts spanning 600 meters with about 90 preserved houses showcasing white plaster walls and traditional Japanese design. The buildings display the architectural style typical of prosperous trading communities from earlier centuries.
From the Edo period through the Meiji era, Uchiko became a major wax production center supplying roughly one-third of Japan's national output. This commercial success attracted wealthy merchants who built grand residences that still stand today.
The Uchiko-za theater from 1916 still hosts traditional Kabuki and Bunraku performances while maintaining its original rotating stages and hidden passages for actors. Visitors can see how these performance techniques required careful stage design and specialized technical features.
The town layout is straightforward and walkable, making it easy to explore the preserved houses and visit the museums and theater on foot. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for wandering through the streets without the intense heat of summer.
The Kamihaga Residence built in 1894 now serves as a museum displaying traditional wax production techniques and the daily life of wealthy merchants from that era. The exhibits reveal how this craft directly contributed to the family's prosperity and shaped their home design.
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