Udatsu Townscape

Minamimachi Dori Street used to be the town where people dreamed of making their fortune with indigo business and silk-cocoon business which flourished from the middle of Edo Period (late 17th century–early 18th century). The town, blessed with water transportation of the Yoshino River, was prosperous as a port of shipment, and there were more than a hundred indigo merchants at one point. The row of houses with “Udatsu” combined with elegant lattice doors and white-walled storehouses remind visitors of the prosperity of the past: wealthy merchants of the olden days used to show off their prosperity with Udatsu. (Udatsu are high-winged walls protrude from the upper-floor wall of the stately house made from clay-rich earth with Hongawara tiled roof–rectangular and round tiles laid down alternatively–and on top of the high-winged walls, roof tiles and luxury ridge end tiles with a family emblem are placed. They used to serve as the dividers of the houses, walls to prevent the spreading of fires and the symbol of family status. “Udatsu ga agaranu” literally means cannot build “Udatsu” and indicates not getting promoted or unfortunate with money. )

Wakimachi-minamimachi, Mima City