{"id":32519,"date":"2018-02-01T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2018-01-31T23:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=32382"},"modified":"2021-05-24T22:45:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T13:45:23","slug":"uchiko-historical-quartier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/uchiko-historical-quartier\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Uchiko’s Historical Quartier in Shikoku"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sponsored by Uchiko Town<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Shikoku Island<\/strong> is undoubtedly famous for its pilgrimage of 88 temples<\/strong>, but Ehime Prefecture<\/strong> also attracts visiters with its capital, Matsuyama<\/strong>, and vast array of 27 temples. If that wasn’t enough, we can also discover authentic small towns<\/strong> nestled in rural valleys. One of them, Uchiko<\/strong> offers a beautiful and perfectly preserved historic district. Follow us back to the Meji Period and delve deep into the soul of Japan’s history.<\/p>\n

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Uchiko : Yokaichi old town<\/p><\/div>\n

A Prosperous City Thanks to the Production of Wax<\/h2>\n

Uchiko’s heritage<\/strong> is deeply linked to its industrial history<\/strong>. In the nineteenth century, Uchiko was known throughout Japan and abroad for the quality of its vegetable wax, which was used especially for the manufacture of candles<\/strong>. The rich merchants have thus built sumptuous homes that have been preserved. Today, one can contemplate this exceptional cultural heritage<\/strong> in Yokaichi Historical District<\/strong>, notably thanks to its classification in 1982 as a “significant preservation area for a group of historic buildings”<\/strong>. Residents and local associations are also actively involved in preserving their heritage.<\/p>\n

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A house in Yokaichi old town<\/p><\/div>\n

When you arrive at the station, you can get a tourist map of the city in English<\/strong>. Around the sightseeing spots on the map, there are also explanatory panels in Japanese that can easily be translated into English by using the QR Code<\/strong>. Simply scan it with your mobile phone.<\/p>\n

The Historic District: Yokaichi<\/h2>\n

Only a 10-minute walk from the train station, the Yokaichi Historical District<\/strong> gathers 90 buildings along a 600-meter street. The street is very lively with many cafes and shops. You can discover several characteristic elements of architecture from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) such as namako style walls with hexagonal patterns as well as claustras koshi wooden cleats.<\/p>\n

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Namako motifed wall<\/p><\/div>\n

The locals are still living in most of these historic homes, with only a few residences open to the public. In particular, you can freely enter the garden of the Honhaga residence<\/strong>, the largest merchant family of Uchiko, to admire its richly decorated fa\u00e7ade (1889). Next to that, the Omura Residence<\/strong> is one of the oldest buildings in Uchiko, built during the Kansei Period (1789-1801). You can also visit a traditional merchant house<\/strong>, ‘machiya’ in Japanese, from the Edo Period (free access from 9:00 to 16:30).<\/p>\n

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Honhaga Residence<\/p><\/div>\n

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Omura Residence<\/p><\/div>\n

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Machiya : the marchant house<\/p><\/div>\n

The Kamihaga Residence and Wax Museum<\/h2>\n

Continue your visit with a trip to the residence and wax workshop of the influential Kamihaga merchant family<\/strong>. Each living room is organized around their beautiful Japanese garden<\/strong>. Obviously you have to take off your shoes to walk on the tatami mats. As we navigated the extravogant area, I could feel as though I were back in the Meiji era. Each room is perfectly preserved and furnished with the furniture of the time. We ended the visit with the huge kitchen (suijiba) which could accommodate up to 30 employees.<\/p>\n

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Kamihaga Residence<\/p><\/div>\n

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Kyaku-zashiki : a room for guests<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Japanese garden<\/p><\/div>\n

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Suijiba : the kitchen<\/p><\/div>\n

In one of the buildings at the bottom of the garden was a museum of Japanese wax<\/strong>. It had a wealth of information in English on the history of wax production in Uchiko and its many uses. It is necessary to differentiate the “crude” wax, ‘kiro’ in Japanese, used for the candles, from the white wax, ‘hakuro’ or ‘sarashiro’, used for the manufacture of various products including cosmetics and drugs. You can also see the stages in the manufacture of the wax in other buildings on the site. In the garden, do not miss your chance to observe the sumac trees whose berries<\/strong> are used for making the wax.<\/p>\n

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The museum<\/p><\/div>\n

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Useful Information :<\/h3>\n