Kurokabe Square

Kurokabe Square takes its name ('black wall') from the black-plastered 1900 bank building at its center, now converted into a glass art gallery, and the surrounding blocks of the old Kitaguni-Kaido post road preserve dozens of Meiji and Taisho-era merchant buildings similarly repurposed as galleries, craft workshops, and cafes. Glassblowing became closely associated with the district in the late 20th century as part of a local revitalization effort, and several studios along the main street offer hands-on glassblowing sessions where visitors can make their own small piece to take home, alongside shops selling finished glasswork, ceramics, and local crafts. A relaxed walk through the district, browsing a handful of galleries and stopping at a cafe, takes about 90 minutes to two hours, while adding a hands-on glassblowing workshop extends a visit further and generally requires booking a time slot in advance, especially on weekends. The district is compact and entirely walkable from JR Nagahama Station, and its Meiji-era brick and wood storefronts make it a popular stop for casual photography, particularly in the softer light of late afternoon.