Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road and a travel tip

There are many areas in Japan where you can experience the traditional Japan, streets "conserved" to look like in the old times. But besides them, there are also streets especially rebuilt to look like the old ones... That's the case of a splendid street from Hikone, the Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road.

The story of this street starts in 1603, with the construction of the Hikone Castle and its castle town (Honmachi). It is the street starting right near the castle's walls and its name comes from the Kyobashi bridge, located at the end of the street. In 1995, the Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road was rebuilt to recreate the atmosphere of the old town, with traditional-style wooden buildings housing souvenir shops, craft shops, Japanese sweets stores and, of course, traditional Japanese restaurants. I actually sampled some takoyaki from the small restaurant visible in this photo... and it was delicious...

Travel tip: When you plan your visit to Hikone, take into account the fact that many shops from Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road are closed on Tuesday.