Aug 1, 20191 min read

'Udatsu' cityscape in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture

うだつの上がる街並み

Udatsu’ cityscape in Mino city, Gifu Prefecture was selected as a preservation district for groups of traditional buildings by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (文化庁). ‘Udatsu’ refers to a firewall built to raise both ends of the roof to prevent fire from burning and only wealthy homes can build ‘Udatsu’. The words ‘Udatsu wo ageru (make a career) ・Udatsu ga agaranai (cannot make any progress)’ came into use.

Mino city is a merchant town in the Edo period, and many of these ‘Udadtsu’ remain. The streets are lined with commercial houses built from the Edo period to the Meiji period, showing the old atmosphere. Above all, the Kosaka Family Residence, a sake brewery that has been designated as a National Important Cultural Property, and the old Imai Family Residence, designated as a Municipal Cultural Property, have maintained their prosperity in the garden and storehouses.