Kumamoto Kawashiri 360° | 360°VR tour of a riverside town rich in emotion and fragrant with food, culture, and history.

CONCEPT

360°VR tour of a riverside town
rich in emotion and fragrant
with food, culture, and history.

The Kawashiri area is located about 8 km south of downtown Kumamoto City.
Beginning in the Middle Ages, Kawashiri prospered as a port used for trade, military activity, and collecting rice tributes for the feudal government, and it was considered a major town throughout the Kumamoto domain’s history.

With this legacy, Kawashiri’s port town and artisans continued to prosper even after the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
Today, the town retains vestiges of its history as a merchant town centered around trade, inns, and craftsmanship, and Kawashiri’s ancient traditions, such the Shoro Nagashi Spirit Boat Procession, live on through community activities.

Why don't you take a stroll through the town of Kawajiri, rich in emotion, where history and culture are still alive with 360-degree videos that can be viewed anytime?

Click on the markers of each spot on the map to view a 360° video.

National Historic Site Ruins of Funatsukiba Wharf

4 Chome-9 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

It was a port for the Kumamoto clan that functioned as a collection point for annual tribute rice and as a military port. The 13 stone steps built of hewn stones near Ishigamiyama are approximately 150 m long, and 200,000 bales of rice were brought to the port.

Keicho
period
National Historic Site Ruins of Ofunate-watashiba Wharf

3 Chome-19 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

Located about 150 m downstream from the former landing site, it was used until around 1961 as a military port and as a ferry crossing point between Onfunate (left bank of the Kasegawa River, now Tomiai Town), where the naval forces of the Kumamoto Clan lived.

Keicho
period
Kawaseri Rokkasho - Tenmeido

1 Chome-3-39-2 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

The business was started in the Tenmei period and opened in Kawajiri in 1869. KawaseriRokkasho, formed by six local wagashi stores, is working to revitalize the town through wagashi.

Temmei
period
National Historic Site Ruins of Kawashiri-komegura Rice Granary

3 Chome-3 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

During the Edo period, it was the base for collecting annual tribute rice using the Midorikawa and Kasegawa Rivers and transporting it mainly to Osaka. Two buildings constructed at the end of the Edo period are still in existence, and each administrative district was assigned a specific location for the delivery of tribute rice.

1847
Yoshimura Residence

4 Chome-6-65 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

Zuiyo Corporation was a sake brewer founded in Keio 3, and was one of the first to produce sake. This building is the residence of the head of the company, which has existed since the company's founding. *Interior tours are not available as this is a private residence.

late Edo
period
Imamura Residence

4 Chome-9-21 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

"It is said that the main camp of the Satsuma Army was located here during the Seinan War in 1877. It is a valuable building as a townhouse during the prosperity of the outer castle. *Interior tours are not available as this is a private residence."

late Edo
period
Shiiba Residence

1 Chome-6-2 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

The current owner's predecessors have been using the land and building of the soy sauce shop as a pediatric internal medicine clinic and residence since the early Showa period. *Interior tours are not available as this is a private residence.

1897
Zuiyo Masudai Storehouse (Former Soy Sauce Brewery)

4 Chome-6-62 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

In 1904, the tobacco manufacturing and sales business was purchased by the government under the "Tobacco Monopoly Law. The funds were used to open a soy sauce shop, and this warehouse was built to manufacture soy sauce.

1906
Zuiyo’s Kawashiri Main Storehouse Office

4 Chome-6-67 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

It was built as a store and office for Zuiyo Corporation and is still used as an office. The interior of the reception room and other rooms still retain their original construction.

late Meiji
period
Zuiyo Sake Storehouse Museum

4 Chome-10-3 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

It was acquired in 1935 and used as a warehouse. Currently, the building is used as the Zuiyo Museum, displaying photos and other items from the Taisho and early Showa eras to convey the history of the company.

late Meiji
period
Old Zuiyo Storehouse (Showa-machi)

4 Chome-10-5 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

It was acquired at the same time as the Zuiyo Museum building and towed to its current location. It is currently used as an office for rent.

late Meiji
period
Kawashiri Public Hall

4 Chome-8-25 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

The Yoshimura family of Zuiyo Corporation donated this building to the former Kawashiri Town for the development of the local community. It was renovated after the Kumamoto Earthquake and continues to be used for community activities.

1931
Noda Storehouse

3 Chome-17-2 Kawashiri, Minami Ward, Kumamoto

"When it was first built, a sake brewery was operated and this warehouse was the newest of the liquor store buildings. The liquor store was closed down due to controls after World War II. *Interior tours are not available as this is a private residence."

1931