One of the most picturesque shopping streets in Japan is located close to the Matsumoto castle, running along the Metoba river. Named Nawate-dori (nawa means rope in Japanese) it is a narrow street as the name suggests and it is widely known for its… statues representing frogs.

The most famous statue here is a samurai frog and there is also a large variety of merchandise representing frogs, such as lucky charms. The reason is that the word kaeru means “frog” but it also means “return", so frogs are considered good to return in your possession things like money…

Nawate-dori, Matsumoto

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kannon statue in Takasaki