Kurano Machi

【Retro-modern city walk】 Explore one of the best 'warehouse towns' in the country, created by 'men's prowess'

Walking in Kitakata, you'll encounter warehouses. The city is said to have over 4,000 warehouses, forming a unique 'warehouse dense area' that is unparalleled in the country. Various warehouses built from the Edo to the Meiji and Taisho eras still thrive in daily life, allowing you to enjoy a retro-modern city walk where rich history intersects with contemporary sensibilities.

■ A unique climate where 'one must build a warehouse to be considered an adult'

Why are there so many warehouses in Kitakata? There is a strong local temperament that states, 'If a man cannot build even one warehouse by the age of 40, he is not considered an adult.'

• Diverse architectural beauty: Encounter warehouses with unique designs, such as the heavy 'black plaster' and 'white plaster' typical of snow country, as well as rare 'brick constructions.'
• Rich variety: Just by walking the streets, you can experience the changes in the townscape created by materials and techniques from different eras.

■ To cafes and galleries. Evolving 'living warehouses'

The warehouses of Kitakata are not only preserved as mere structures but are also still used in daily life, which is their charm.

• Essence of renovation: Former brewing warehouses and 'tatami warehouses' have beautifully transformed into charming cafes and galleries.
• Breath of history: Enjoy the evolving 'living warehouses' leisurely while savoring coffee in a space surrounded by thick beams and plaster walls.