Old towns of Japan

Japan's old towns or historic districts are known as machinami (街並み or 町並み) or Kyu-Shigai (旧市街).

Designations

Ornate decorations on an old town building in Uchiko

Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区, Jūyō Dentōteki Kenzōbutsu-gun Hozon-chiku) is a category of historic districts that have been given a special mandate of protection by The Agency for Cultural Affairs, which provides guidance and funds for repairs. Districts with this designation also get preferential tax treatment. Three points must be met in order to qualify to be part of the list:

1. Groups of traditional buildings that show excellent design as a whole

2. Groups of traditional buildings and land distribution that preserve the old state of affairs well

3. Groups of traditional buildings and their surrounding environment that show remarkable regional characteristics

Not all historic districts have this designation however, the historic districts with this designation are generally large and scenic, so it is advised to check the list for those interested in a stroll through old Japan. Still, visiting unlisted districts can also be worthwhile.

Categorizations

Japan's historic districts are separated into different categories based on what they were built and used for. Cities that contain multiple historic districts of different categories will have each individual district listed under its own category. For example Kyoto's Gion District is listed as a Teahouse quarter while Kyoto's Saga Toriimoto Historic Street is listed as a shrine district. Both are in Kyoto, but they are different places, so they are listed separately.

Some single districts may fall under multiple categories. For example, Tsuyama's Joto District was part of the castle town of Tsuyama Castle, it operated as a merchant district within the town, and it also served as a post town along the Old Izumo Road. These will be listed in just one category with all other categories listed in the description.

Post towns

Narai-juku in Shiojiri, a post town along the Nakasendo Route

Post towns (宿場町 shukuba-machi) were stations along the roads that connected each province to the capital Edo (modern Tokyo) during the Edo Period where travelers could stop to sleep, rest, eat, and get needed supplies to continue onward to their final destinations. Post towns all had honjin (本陣), inns where traveling daimyo and important people stayed, and wakihonjin (脇本陣) where lesser vassals stayed, as well as daimyo when there were two staying at the same time or when the honjin was unavailable. Wakihonjin were open to the public when no one of note was staying in the area while honjin were exclusively reserved for the daimyo. Toiyaba (問屋場) were administrative buildings where the daimyo could go to exchange horses or staff and do governmental work. A visit to any of these sites is recommended if they still exist and are open to the public. When they no longer exist (which is common), there will almost always be a marker or information sign indicating where they once stood. People traveling along post town routes will often locate at least the former honjin if not all of the sites, as a way to "authenticate" their visit in lieu of official stamps or goshuin available at temple pilgrimage sites.

• 1 Seki-juku (Kameyama) - The 47th station of the Tokaido Road, the Seki-juku, is one of the best preserved post towns that connected Edo to Kyoto
• 2 Narai-juku (Shiojiri) -
• 3 Magome-juku
• 4 Tsumago-juku
• Yakage-juku (Yakage) - A post town along the Old Sanyo Road
• 5 Ouchi-juku (Shimogo)

Castle towns

Historic road to Izushi Castle

Castle towns (城下町 jōka-machi) are towns constructed around the castles of local lords. They first appeared in the Muromachi Period and were built and maintained throughout Japan's feudal period with their construction and functions ceasing in the Meiji era. Samurai quarters (listed below) were part of castle towns. Many of the modern preservation districts were castle town merchant districts. Japanese classifications typically only list them as "merchant districts" in these cases, giving the false impression of fewer castle towns. In actuality, castle towns are among the most prevalent historic districts and looking into places with castles or former castles is a good way to find historic districts.

• 6 Izushi (Toyooka)
• 7 Joto Historic District (Tsuyama) - A merchant area of Tsuyama Castle's town and a post town along the Old Izumo Road.
• 8 Obi Castle Town (Nichinan)
• 9 Tsuwano Castle Town (Tsuwano)
• 10 Inuyama Castle Town (Inuyama)

Samurai quarters

Samurai quarters (武家町 buke-machi) are sections of castle towns where the samurai residences were located.

• 11 Chiran - A former samurai district with a handful of houses that can be entered
• 12 Kakunodate - A preserved samurai district lined with black walls, famous for the weeping cherries that line most of the district
• 13 Nagamachi (Kanazawa) - The samurai district in Kanazawa
• Horiuchi and Hiyako Districts (Hagi) - Listed as a World Heritage Site, the samurai districts in this former castle town feature the homes of future prime ministers and other important historic figures.

Merchant districts

Kurashiki's Bikan Historic Quarter built around a canal

Merchant districts (商家町 Shōka machi) developed in the Edo Period. They were places where merchants gathered to sell their wares and trade with other regions. Goods were most easily moved by boat, so they were commonly built around rivers and canals.

• 14 Arita - Historic Arita pottery buildings in the Uchiyama district from the Edo and Showa periods
• 15 Sawara Historic District (Katori) - A historic Edo Period business town located along a canal that was once used to transport goods
• 16 Kawagoe Kurazukuri Street (Kawagoe) - An old Edo Period castle town complete with the actual castle palace building from that time
• 17 Kurashiki Bikan Historic Quarters (Kurashiki) - The Bikan Historic Quarter is a former merchant district. It's one of the largest preservation districts in the nation.
• 18 Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses (Kurayoshi)
• Omihachiman
• Takayama
• Yanai
• 19 Uchiko Yokaichi Gokoku Historic DistrictUchiko - a wax-making town

Mining towns

• 20 Fukiya - An Edo Period copper and bengara mining town known for its unique red-hued buildings
• 21 Omori Town (大森, Ōmori) surrounding the Iwami Ginzan silver mines

Zaigo town

Zaigo towns (在郷町, zaigō-machi) were areas in the countryside where artisans and merchants lived under the administration of a nearby village's magistrate during the Edo Period

• Yame

Temple and shrine districts

Saga Toriimoto Street built around Atago Shrine's torii gate

Monzen-machi (門前町) were built around temples and shrines, particularly those where pilgrims visited or those with high patronage. Prior to the existence of castle towns, wealthy and powerful temples and shrines offered protection to those who resided within their realm of influence.

Temple districts

Jinai-machi (寺内町) are the names given specifically to towns that sprung up around temples. Many of the temples are of the Jodo sect.

• Teramachi (Kanazawa) -
• Kyoto
• 22 Jinai-machi (Tondabayashi)
• 23 Imai-cho (Kashihara)
• 24 Yatsuo (Toyama) - A historic district built around Monmyoji Temple

Shrine districts

Shake-machi (社家町) or Torii-mae-machi (鳥居前町) are names given specifically to the towns built around shrines and their torii gates. Most buildings in shake-machi served as the homes of the shrine's priests.

• Kamigamo (Kyoto) - built in the Kamo area of the city outside of Kamigamo Shrine
• Saga Toriimoto Historic Street (Kyoto) - A torii-mae-machi, built around Atago Shrine's torii gate

Tea house quarters

Tea house quarters (茶屋町, chaya-machi), also known as Geisha districts or pleasure quarters, are former entertainment districts centered around tea houses where maiko and geiko (geisha) performed.

• 25 Higashi Chaya District and Kazue-machi District (Kanazawa) - The city's 2 former geisha or "tea house" quarters
• 26 Gion District (Kyoto)

Mountain villages

• 27 Miyama Village {Nantan)
• 28 Shiiba - A remote village in Miyazaki

Farm villages

• 29 Shirakawa-go
• 30 Gokayama

Port towns

The maze-like Edo-style warren of the Mitarai preservation district

Port towns (港町) were historically the most important places for trade and commerce. As Japan modernized and railways provided better means of transporting goods, port towns slowly began to disappear. The historic districts here contain some that have survived since their heyday.

• 31 Tomonoura (Fukuyama)
• 32 Mimitsu (Hyuga)
• 33 Mitarai (Ōsakishimojima)

Island villages

• Taketomi - The best-preserved former Ryukyuan village