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Imai Townscape Exchange Center Hanairaka: Gateway to Edo-Era Japan

Discover the history and culture of Imai Town, one of Japan's best-preserved Edo-era merchant towns, at this informative exchange center.

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The Imai Townscape Exchange Center Hanairaka is located in a building dating back to 1903 and serves as an informative hub for visitors exploring the historic Imai Town in Kashihara, Nara. It offers insights into the area's rich history and cultural significance.

A brief summary to Imai Townscape Exchange Center Hanairaka

  • Monday 9 am-5 pm
  • Tuesday 9 am-5 pm
  • Wednesday 9 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 9 am-5 pm
  • Friday 9 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-5 pm
  • Sunday 9 am-5 pm

Local tips

  • Pick up a map from the center before exploring Imai Town for better navigation.
  • Consider visiting during less crowded times to fully enjoy the scenic views.
  • Check the schedule for workshops or special exhibits to make the most of your visit.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    The Imai Townscape Exchange Center Hanairaka is located within Imai Town and is easily accessible on foot from anywhere in the historic district. From Kintetsu Yagi-Nishiguchi Station, it is about a 5-minute walk. From JR Unebi Station, it's about an 8-minute walk. No costs are associated with walking.

  • Public Transport

    The nearest train stations are Kintetsu Yagi-Nishiguchi Station and JR Unebi Station. From either station, it is a short walk to the Imai Townscape Exchange Center Hanairaka. Train fares from nearby cities vary. For example, the train from Kashihara to Nara-shi costs ¥300 - ¥430. A one-day bus pass in Nara costs 650 yen.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are available in the area. From Nara Station to Kashihara, a taxi ride takes about 21 minutes and costs ¥8,000–¥10,000. Taxi fare from Kashihara to Nara-shi is ¥8000 - ¥9500.

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Discover more about Imai Townscape Exchange Center Hanairaka

The Imai Townscape Exchange Center Hanairaka is a must-visit destination for those wanting to explore the charming streets of Imai Town in Kashihara, Nara. Housed in a historical building dating back to 1903, the center acts as an informative hub where visitors can delve into the rich history and cultural significance of the area. Originally built as an educational museum, it later functioned as the town hall before transforming into a museum dedicated to showcasing Imai's heritage. Visitors can learn about Imai's origins as a temple town centered around Shonenji Temple, its armed resistance to Oda Nobunaga, and its subsequent flourishing as a merchant town. The center provides maps for exploring the nostalgic townscape and showcases local ingenuity. Tourists praise the kindness of locals and recommend visiting to learn about the town's origins before strolling through its streets. The building itself is built in the Meiji era style. Inside, displays explain the unique architecture of Imaicho and the history of the town. Although the displays are primarily in Japanese, the model houses and scale model of Imaicho are easy to understand. Volunteer guides are available to provide assistance, and pamphlets in several languages are available. The surrounding gardens with seating offer a pleasant place to take a break. Imai Town itself is an unusually large preserved historic district located near Asuka in Nara Prefecture. A visit to Imaicho allows visitors to wander through the many alleys of an entire small town. Imaicho began as a temple town centered around Shonenji Temple. During the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603) the town was initially opposed to the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga, who was trying to limit the power of the larger temples. Imaicho was surrounded by a moat and heavily armed, but through negotiations armed confrontation was avoided and the town was allowed some degree of autonomy. During the following years, the town was able to flourish as a merchant town, engaging in trade with other towns such as Osaka and Sakai, and the citizens became very wealthy.

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