Designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings

Arimatsu was Nagoya City's first Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in 1984. Then, in 2013, the Tokaido Road—an integral trade route connecting Kyoto and Edo (present-day Tokyo)—had all of its utility poles removed. Going even further, Arimatsu was then designated the first national Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings to run along the road of a major metropolitan city in 2016.

Note:
• "Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings" refers to classification as one of the cultural properties defined in the Act on Protection of Cultural Properties.

Exploring Arimatsu's powerful tie-dye wholesaler estates

After the huge fire which spread through Arimatsu in 1784, the town took a variety of fire-proofing measures in rebuilding citizens' estates. The Hattori Residence, recognized as a Aichi Prefectural cultural property, is one of these and a distinct architectural phenomenon of the area. It was established as a shibori, or tie-dye, wholesaler in 1790, originally named "Igetaya".
After the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Meiji period, the houses of the Owari region, in which Nagoya and Arimatsu lie, took on their own characteristic long, townhouse-style of construction. Elongated latticework sprawling the length of the building as well as white plaster and tiled outer walls; vertically latticed windows; plastered interior walls; and rooftop, load-bearing udatsu walls are all characteristics of Arimatsu's traditional architecture and means to withstand fires, as believed by the residents of the day.
The traditional Takeda Residence, which continues to stand as a show of a merchant's prosperity back then, and the Oka Residence, a mansion constructed with architecture of imposing proportions, are definitely spots to check out along your walk through the Arimatsu-Narumi Historic Townscape.