A Taste of Japanese Heritage Awaits at Arimatsu
Nagoya is a great in-between spot to visit whether you’re traveling from places in the Kanto region like Tokyo or the Kansai region like Osaka or Kyoto. This city is easily accessible from both areas and has its own charms to boast of. It has its fair share of sightseeing spots, good food, and, of course, beautiful souvenirs to take home to the Philippines. Not sure which Nagoya location to visit to get a good taste of what the place has to offer? Start with Arimatsu.
©Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau
A brief history of Arimatsu
Arimatsu is the perfect destination to experience what traditional Nagoya has to offer. The old town located in Midori Ward, Nagoya City was established around 1608 and is famous for shiborizome or the art of tie-dyeing.
Located along the stretch of Tokaido road, Arimatsu is formerly known for its busy streets filled with travelers crossing from one city to another. However, as time passed and more roads were developed for easier traveling, Arimatsu became more laidback, less busy and yet still well-loved for its charm and unique crafts.
What to do in Arimatsu, Nagoya
Start the trip at the Arimatsu-Narumi Shiborizome Museum which showcases Arimatsu’s tie-dyed goods, as well as the history of the craft within the town. There are demonstrations on how the fabrics are dyed, as well as classes that visitors can participate in for a more interactive experience (prior reservations are needed). And, of course, you can purchase tie-dyed merchandise like bags or handkerchiefs to remind you of your visit.
Head over to Dasenka Kura bakery and grab original brick-oven baked goods that will surely satisfy your appetite.
Feeling hungry after embracing your inner tie-dye artist? There are certain places in Arimatsu to grab amazing snacks that offer food and beverages made from organic ingredients.
Next, if you or any of your companions are wishing for academic success, a visit to Arimatsu Tenmansha is a must. The place is a pilgrimage site and a shrine to Sugawara no Michizane, a nobleman from the Heian Period (794 to 1185) who was posthumously regarded as a deity of learning because of his exceptional talents as a scholar back when he was alive.
Another highlight of the shrine is its Uso stone lantern, which is named pretty wittily given its meaning. Michizane is said to like birds thus the uso (鷽) a.k.a. Japanese bullfinch. This bird is also a symbol that brings good luck. It also symbolizes treating your problems and worries as uso (嘘) which means ‘lies’ and is said to ward off any negativity you’re experiencing while you’re there.
©Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau
You can wrap up the day by visiting the House of Oka to see how families during the Edo (1603 to 1868) and Showa (1926 to 1989) periods lived at the height of Tokaido’s popularity as a travelers’ road. The residence can be entered for free, with guides that will help you better appreciate the traditional interiors and fixtures of the house.
You can also visit other old residences like The Takeda House where the tea room was once said to have hosted 14th-generation shogun Tokugawa Iemochi of the Tokugawa shogunate; the Tanahashi House which was formerly a clinic for 50 years from 1933; the Hattori House which was built during the Meiji period and is the largest existing storehouse in Arimatsu; the Yamada House which was formerly a pharmacy that now functions as a tourism information center; and the Takeda Shoukuro House which now functions as a cafe and features its original floorboards since 1846.
Arimatsu may not be as flashy as Nagoya’s cityscape sites, but it definitely accentuates the allure of the city’s more traditional aspects. Make sure to include this in your Nagoya itinerary.
|
Arimatsu Address: Arimatsu, Midori Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 458-0924, Japan |
