Kurokabe Square

Flow of the course

About this spot

About a 5-minute walk from JR Nagahama Station, this is Nagahama's leading tourist area. Centered on a black-plastered bank storehouse built in the Meiji era, it's a district full of castle-town charm, gathering glasswork specialty shops, galleries, restaurants, and general stores. Nagahama is also known as the glass town, and just browsing the handmade glass accessories and tableware makes for an enjoyable time. There are also many restaurants serving Kohoku's local cuisine and dishes made with local ingredients, making it just the right size to combine lunch with a bit of street-food grazing. On the day of the fireworks festival, the area gets crowded from the evening onward, so it's recommended to take your time here while it's still daytime.

Tips

About a 5-minute walk from the east exit of JR Nagahama Station. Parking within the area tends to fill up from the evening onward on the day of the fireworks festival, so it's more comfortable to come by train. Glass souvenirs are fragile, so pack them carefully after purchase. It's about a 10-minute walk to the next stop, the Nagahama Castle History Museum.

Best time to visit

About 1.5 hours. In the early afternoon, foot traffic is calmer, so you can take your time browsing the shops

Access & map

12-38 Motohama-cho, Nagahama, Shiga 526-0059