Naramachi Old Town

An old merchant town spreading south of Sarusawa Pond, where wooden machiya townhouses from the Edo-to-Meiji era remain intact, forming a maze of narrow alleys. Many machiya buildings have been renovated into cafes, gift shops, and traditional craft stores, making it a pleasant area for a leisurely stroll. The red monkey-shaped charm called "Migawari Saru" hanging under eaves has become Naramachi's symbol, said to ward off misfortune and illness.