Kurokabe Square
Kurokabe Square
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksHistoric Walking AreasScenic Walking Areas
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A black wall square where shops and cafés renovated the old townscape from Edo to the early Showa era. The central black wall glass pavilion is a facility that used bank traces built in 1900 (Meiji 33), and a large number of domestic and foreign glass products line up. In the vicinity it is dotted with glass workshops, galleries, cafes, experiences facilities, and you can enjoy the streets and glasses.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
352 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
195
Average
98
Poor
6
Terrible
0
StanleyAuckland
Auckland, New Zealand2,214 contributions
Nov 2011 • Couples
Kurokabe means back wall. The area is named after the western style bank which was coloured black. It is now a glass workshop which is worth a visit while walking throught he town. Kurokabe area has a lot of old style houses and shops.
Written February 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily L
Oxford, MI170 contributions
This square has a delightful array of shops, restaurants and cafes- even a temple and action figure museum! It's one of my favorite places in all of Japan. I love the historic architecture, the quant bridges adorned with foxes and tiny canals. There's plenty to do to fill the afternoon (especially if you partake in activities at the glass shops) and if you happen upon it during the summer, chances that a festival will fill the streets are very high! Check down each alleyway for hidden kaleidoscopes!!
Written January 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kat T
807 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
Went as part of a day trip to Hikone (in the morning) and here (in the afternoon). My guidebook and the local tourist info pitch the black colour of the shops' exteriors as a selling point, and at a few spots you will get the feeling that you have travelled back away from the 21st century.
But this feeling only happens at a few places. The entire Kurokabe Square, so to speak, were about 3 streets in parallel for about 4 (short) blocks. It's not the size of a theme park. Can be walked around in 20 minutes.
The area may call up more of your time if you stop by some of its shops & restaurants. Some of the shops still use fairly antique (by mass production standards) handiwork and machinery to make their products. See pictures.
At the time of my visit, it was cherry blossom season and there weren't too many people (even Japanese) there. Felt slightly off the normal tour / backpacking trail. Can be combined with a visit to the eastern shores of Lake Biwa on the other side of Nagahama JR if weather permits (it was fairly cloudy most of the afternoon when I was there).
But this feeling only happens at a few places. The entire Kurokabe Square, so to speak, were about 3 streets in parallel for about 4 (short) blocks. It's not the size of a theme park. Can be walked around in 20 minutes.
The area may call up more of your time if you stop by some of its shops & restaurants. Some of the shops still use fairly antique (by mass production standards) handiwork and machinery to make their products. See pictures.
At the time of my visit, it was cherry blossom season and there weren't too many people (even Japanese) there. Felt slightly off the normal tour / backpacking trail. Can be combined with a visit to the eastern shores of Lake Biwa on the other side of Nagahama JR if weather permits (it was fairly cloudy most of the afternoon when I was there).
Written June 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ohshima
Tokyo, Japan24 contributions
Nov 2014 • Family
The place itself was just a renovated bank building and filled with lots of souvenir shops for Japanese tourists. Unless you find enthusiasm in choosing souvenirs to hand out to your friends and relatives, it is not your place.
But the surrounding area was another story. Since Nagahama was developed by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who ruled Japan as a Shogun in 16th century, the city's old town preserves the atmosphere of the Middle Age Japan very well. Walk along the narrow streets with historic buildings, which once housed wealthy Japanese merchants, and you fell as if you slipped back in time.
There were some good antique shops, too. If you try to buy some authentic antique, like a lacquer ware or porcelain dish, in Tokyo, you would have to spend a lot of money. But here, you can find a horde of them with a very reasonable price. They seem to have come from Kura, a family storehouse, in which those merchants stored dinner ware for guests and some other precious things as well.
Walk around the old town will take one hour or so. If you like to browse antique shops, it may take a few more hours.
But the surrounding area was another story. Since Nagahama was developed by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who ruled Japan as a Shogun in 16th century, the city's old town preserves the atmosphere of the Middle Age Japan very well. Walk along the narrow streets with historic buildings, which once housed wealthy Japanese merchants, and you fell as if you slipped back in time.
There were some good antique shops, too. If you try to buy some authentic antique, like a lacquer ware or porcelain dish, in Tokyo, you would have to spend a lot of money. But here, you can find a horde of them with a very reasonable price. They seem to have come from Kura, a family storehouse, in which those merchants stored dinner ware for guests and some other precious things as well.
Walk around the old town will take one hour or so. If you like to browse antique shops, it may take a few more hours.
Written May 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brooke0588
Northern Kentucky, KY73 contributions
Dec 2014 • Business
I visited Kurokabe Square during a recent trip to Japan. We did sandblasting with a small glass and were able to make our on design on the glass. This was a fun souvenir to take back with me. The staff was very kind and attentive to us. We also spent time walking the area and visiting the shops. There were very many unique shops and I purchased several items. Within the square there was a few museums you could visit as well. The square felt like you were stepping back in time and the experience was fun and memorable.
Written December 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soraname
Sao Paulo, SP9 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Went there mainly to visit Kaiyodo Museum but we found lots of good food! Try the sweet potato sweets, they're worth it!
Written October 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bridget H
1 contribution
Sep 2017 • Friends
The square is within easy walking distance of the train station, and the glass shop was the first place we stopped. I think I wandered around inside there for an hour, because there were so many cool products to look at, and the building itself has a old feeling to it. There were fancy and expensive glass goods, but also a bunch of smaller trinkets of animals, food, characters, etc.
We then walked briefly through the square, which is covered and feels pretty traditional, plus it has giant wooden bugs on some of the pillars, which was cool. We went into the figurine museum, and even though I didn't go into the exhibit, there was still a lot to see in the gift shop and entryway area. Lots of gatcha-pon with some more expensive, complicated prizes, and a whole bunch of figures and local souvenirs. Everything started to close around 6, but I'd go back earlier in the day to shop around some more and try some of the black ice cream (because kuro means black?) I saw one place selling.
We then walked briefly through the square, which is covered and feels pretty traditional, plus it has giant wooden bugs on some of the pillars, which was cool. We went into the figurine museum, and even though I didn't go into the exhibit, there was still a lot to see in the gift shop and entryway area. Lots of gatcha-pon with some more expensive, complicated prizes, and a whole bunch of figures and local souvenirs. Everything started to close around 6, but I'd go back earlier in the day to shop around some more and try some of the black ice cream (because kuro means black?) I saw one place selling.
Written October 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emster2029
Singapore, Singapore988 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
We passed by Nagahama on the way to Hikone. The Square is a few restored buildings of the18th Century with souvenir shops for the local tourists. We tried out some of the local snacks which we uniquely tasty.
Written November 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen R
Haslemere, UK122 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Agree with all the comments though some of the glass products were not great. But a lot of nice shops with interesting stuff.
However, sadly we were very disappointed with the Andoh house which is unexceptional and in our view not worth the entrance fee (Y400) nor the time. Sorry.
However, sadly we were very disappointed with the Andoh house which is unexceptional and in our view not worth the entrance fee (Y400) nor the time. Sorry.
Written November 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J-J2030
Lancefield, Australia258 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
This is a pleasant attraction which seems to us to be a cross between a shopping centre and a market and includes a number of interesting little eateries. A good place for a stroll especially if you are on your way to the main temple.
Written June 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
近くにバス駐車場がありますから、マイクロバスも停まれると思います。黒壁スクエアの手前の川の前です。長浜八幡宮御旅所の前の広場です。
Written September 19, 2018
ペットのトイプードルを連れて向かっています。
街中やアーケード街はリードを着けていれば一緒に散歩は可能でしょうか？
食事などの際はキャリーバッグに入れても入店を拒否されることが多いでしょうか？
ご存じの方がいらっしゃればご教示をお願いします。
Written March 1, 2015
通常の商店街です大丈夫ですよ、ただし人が平日でも沢山おられます、御注意を
食事についてはごめんなさいわかりません。
お力になれずすいません、でも食事できるお店は沢山ありますよ
Written March 2, 2015
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