Mino City Udatsu Townscape: Highway Engraved with Prosperity and Decline of Edo Merchants

What is Udatsu?

"Udatsu (卯建)" is a firewall protruding from walls to prevent fire spreading to neighboring houses. In the Edo era, building udatsu with expensive materials was a symbol of wealth, with the wealthier a merchant house the more gorgeous the udatsu. Currently the idiom "udatsu ga agaranai (unable to raise one's udatsu)" is used, expressing not being wealthy enough to raise udatsu.

Important Traditional Buildings Preservation District

Honmachi district in Mino City, Gifu is selected as a National Important Traditional Buildings Preservation District, valuable townscape where Edo-era "merchant houses with raised udatsu" exist. The prosperity of Edo-period merchants who flourished as Mino Washi production area is engraved.

Mino Washi Light Art Exhibition

"Mino Washi Light Art Exhibition" held in Mino City every October is an event where andon (paper lanterns) using washi fantastically color the city. Night scenery with Edo-era townscape enveloped in washi lights is particularly beautiful, attracting many visitors from across Japan.