熊川宿

若狭熊川宿とは
about kumagawajuku

Kumagawa-juku is a historic post town situated along the Saba Kaido (“Mackerel Road”), a network of trade routes that connected Wakasa to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. The town developed in a valley along the Kita River as a relay point where cargo was transported by horse or by boat. The townscape that took shape during the Edo period (1603–1867) remains to this day, and Kumagawa-juku was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1996. In 2015, Wakasa, the Saba Kaido, and Kumagawa-juku were included in the list of Japan Heritage Sites, reflecting their role in the country’s history and culture.

The local community worked with the Wakasa municipal administration for many years to preserve the historic town of Kumagawa-juku. With the support of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, repair work was successfully carried out on the traditional machiya townhouses, and the Maegawa Channel that flows along the front of the residences underwent maintenance. Other landscaping measures were carried out to preserve the traditional look of Kumagawa-juku, including a hidden wiring system, which allowed for the removal of utility poles. The residents and administrative bodies worked together to implement a town development strategy which would also protect against potential natural disasters. These efforts received high praise at both the prefectural and the national level.
Regretfully, in recent years the population of Kumagawa-juku has been aging, and the sight of abandoned homes has become increasingly common.
On the other hand, because of changing lifestyles and personal values, the town has seen an influx of younger people who want to open stores and run their businesses here. Starting with the renovation of a large traditional house for use as a shared office space in 2017, many facilities opened one after another, including a ceramic arts workshop, a traditional lodge, a ninja-themed house, a café that serves school lunch-style meals, and a small shop specializing in Wakasa regional goods. A new branch of a café that originated in Tokyo opened in Kumagawa-juku, coming fully equipped with its own coffee bean roasters. In the short few years, many previously abandoned houses have been leased out and revived, bringing about many big changes to the town. These developments caught the attention of the media, and due to the increased awareness, the number of visitors from the Wakasa region and beyond has been on the rise.
Through efforts such as these, the Wakasa town administration has been working with the local residents to fulfill their motto, “Recovering the scenery of life.” Even though the achievements are already substantial, the community members are not stopping at simply preserving the townscape, and plans for the active development of Kumagawa-juku are moving full-steam ahead. This includes a project called the Kumagawa-juku Life and Business Guide, started in 2021, which aims at helping those beginning new lives in the town.

Another project is the creation of the Kumagawa Trail, which will run from Kumagawa-juku to the former site of Kumagawa Castle and then connect to the Takashima Trail. The development of the area around the Kouchi Dam is progressing as well, with plans to create a campground and a park that will help enrich the lives and improve health of both the residents and visitors alike. We believe that these efforts will make Kumagawa-juku better not only as a historical town and a tourist location, but also as a place to call home.

From the time when Kumagawa-juku became a post town, it was a lively, bustling place with countless travelers passing through and merchants competing for trade. Even now, visitors to Kumagawa-juku are warmly welcomed by the town residents, and the community is happy to accept newcomers planning to start a new life here.

Kumagawa-juku is a place that has been blessed with abundant natural resources and favorable conditions for extensive cultural exchange, and many people continue to visit and enjoy the traditional town. We invite you to come to our scenic area and experience everything it has to offer!