I introduce Imaicho (Imai Town, Kashihara city) in English today.（今日のブログでは趣向を変えて、英語で橿原市今井町を紹介します。あなたのパソコンの文字化けではありません、念のため。）
Kashihara city is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture.Imaicho is an unusually large preserved historic district located in Kashihara city. According to the website of “japan-guide.com”,
While preserved districts in Japan are usually limited to a few buildings or perhaps a street, a visit to Imaicho allows visitors to wander through the many alleys of an entire small town. However, Imaicho is not maintained entirely in its original state, and telephone wires and vehicles may occasionally intrude on the historical atmosphere.
Imaicho Guide Tour
Imaicho began as a temple town centered around Shonenji Temple(称念寺), which is still standing after being burnt down and rebuilt many times over its history. During the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (安土桃山時代 1573-1603) the town was initially opposed to the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga（織田信長）, who was trying to limit the power of the larger temples. Imaicho was surrounded by a moat and heavily armed, but through negotiations armed confrontation was avoided and the town was allowed some degree of autonomy.
＊Potos of Imaicho
During the following years, the town was able to flourish as a merchant town, engaging extensively in trade with other towns such as Osaka（大阪） and Sakai（堺）, and the citizens became very wealthy. Every household was able to use tile for their roof, instead of the more common and inexpensive straw, and they even began to lend money to the samurai. Unfortunately, after the samurai system had been terminated in 1868, the town was not able to recoup its money and fell into decline.
In addition to walking through the streets and visiting Shonenji Temple, visitors can enter a few of Imaicho's preserved buildings. There are three residences that are open to the public: Foremost among them is the Imanishi Residence（今西家住宅）, the oldest and most impressive of Imaicho's residences. Dating back to 1650, it accommodated the town's most powerful family, the Imanishi Family, whose members acted as town administrators.
The Imai Machiya-kan（今井まちや館） near the temple and the Kometani Residence（旧米谷家住宅） are also open to the public. Both double functioned as shops and residences of merchant families specialized in hardware products. Furthermore, tourists can also visit the Hanairaka（華甍） information center just southeast of the preserved area, where there is a model of the town and a few old photos on display.
Imanishi Residence（Imanishi family's House） has been designated an "Important Cultural Property"（重要文化財） in Japan. According to the website of“The Imanish Family Residence Preservation Foundation”（財団法人今西家保存会。日本語サイトはこちら）,
For generations, the Imanish family served as the head of sodoshiyori's (惣年寄 town administrators). Three generations after Kawai Gombei-Kiyonaga1(河合権兵衛尉清長） moved to Imai in 1566, Matsudaira(松平), a grandson of the then lord of Koriyama Castle(郡山城), Tokugawa Ieyasu(徳川家康), recommended that they changed their name to Imanish, as their residence was situated at the West exit of Imai Town. In this way they have called themselves "Imanish" since 1621.As described above, the residence of the Imanish family, which had judicial and police powers, is located at the West exit of Imai town, and there is a moat on its Western side.
The road in front the residence used to be the main street leading to Sakai. At the Western end of the West gate there used to be a guard's hut. The outer walls of the redidence were completely covered in white plaster. Below both side of the main roog are small parallel roofs. The roofing is of the hongawara-buki（本瓦葺） style, and presents a magnigicent castle-like appearance.
Imaicho has been preserved by endavors of the residents. According to the website of “Mediation for Urban Cnservation:The Case of Imai-cho, Japan”,
The process of designating an historic area as a preservation zone begins by a survey research of the are to determine the measures to be taken for preservation, areas to be preserved, financial allocation, etc.
Conflicts that commonly develop during this period is mitigated through a series of consensus-building exercises. It is usually at this period that residents' associations and groups are formed to mediate between the interests of the land/house owners and the local government. Consensus formation is followed by the designation of the historic area as a 'DenKen Chiku'（伝建地区）. Individual old buildings are simultaneously designated as 'Important Cultural Assets'. Financial assistance, relaxation of building regulations, conformation to historical styles during remodelling/reconstruction etc. are also considered during designation.
A Preservation Council is established to deal with various issues. This is formed by representatives of Ministry of Construction, Agency of Cultural Affairs, the local government as well as residents associations. The Preservation Plan proposed for the historic area first hears opinions from the Council, including the validity of the areas selected for preservation. After necessary modifications, it is thrown open to public hearings. Written reports of conflicts with the Plan are invited from the residents' associations. Their active participation is enlisted to ensure cooperation in implementation of the preservation plan.
TV commercial（Daiwa House）
Imaicho is not only an antique-looking town, but also a sophisticated stage of modern arts. Nara Art Poromnade was held last year. Many TV commercials have been recorded in this town. You will find something new aspects of Japan.
＊TV commercial of Nippon Life
TV commercial (Nanto Bank)
Asuka is located near Imaicho. Kashihara city has modern hotels and traditional Japanese-style ryokans. Imaicho is located a short walk west of Kintetsu Yagi-Nishiguchi Station（近鉄八木西口駅） and less than a ten minute walk from Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station（近鉄大和八木駅）or Unebi Station of Japan National Railways（JR畝傍駅）. The town can also be reached by rental bicycle in about 15 minutes from Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station（近鉄橿原神宮前駅）. Please come to Imaicho！
＊Phone 0744-20-1123 (Kashihara City Tourist Association)
＊English map
Kashihara city is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture.Imaicho is an unusually large preserved historic district located in Kashihara city. According to the website of “japan-guide.com”,
While preserved districts in Japan are usually limited to a few buildings or perhaps a street, a visit to Imaicho allows visitors to wander through the many alleys of an entire small town. However, Imaicho is not maintained entirely in its original state, and telephone wires and vehicles may occasionally intrude on the historical atmosphere.
Imaicho Guide Tour
Imaicho began as a temple town centered around Shonenji Temple(称念寺), which is still standing after being burnt down and rebuilt many times over its history. During the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (安土桃山時代 1573-1603) the town was initially opposed to the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga（織田信長）, who was trying to limit the power of the larger temples. Imaicho was surrounded by a moat and heavily armed, but through negotiations armed confrontation was avoided and the town was allowed some degree of autonomy.
＊Potos of Imaicho
During the following years, the town was able to flourish as a merchant town, engaging extensively in trade with other towns such as Osaka（大阪） and Sakai（堺）, and the citizens became very wealthy. Every household was able to use tile for their roof, instead of the more common and inexpensive straw, and they even began to lend money to the samurai. Unfortunately, after the samurai system had been terminated in 1868, the town was not able to recoup its money and fell into decline.
In addition to walking through the streets and visiting Shonenji Temple, visitors can enter a few of Imaicho's preserved buildings. There are three residences that are open to the public: Foremost among them is the Imanishi Residence（今西家住宅）, the oldest and most impressive of Imaicho's residences. Dating back to 1650, it accommodated the town's most powerful family, the Imanishi Family, whose members acted as town administrators.
The Imai Machiya-kan（今井まちや館） near the temple and the Kometani Residence（旧米谷家住宅） are also open to the public. Both double functioned as shops and residences of merchant families specialized in hardware products. Furthermore, tourists can also visit the Hanairaka（華甍） information center just southeast of the preserved area, where there is a model of the town and a few old photos on display.
Imanishi Residence（Imanishi family's House） has been designated an "Important Cultural Property"（重要文化財） in Japan. According to the website of“The Imanish Family Residence Preservation Foundation”（財団法人今西家保存会。日本語サイトはこちら）,
For generations, the Imanish family served as the head of sodoshiyori's (惣年寄 town administrators). Three generations after Kawai Gombei-Kiyonaga1(河合権兵衛尉清長） moved to Imai in 1566, Matsudaira(松平), a grandson of the then lord of Koriyama Castle(郡山城), Tokugawa Ieyasu(徳川家康), recommended that they changed their name to Imanish, as their residence was situated at the West exit of Imai Town. In this way they have called themselves "Imanish" since 1621.As described above, the residence of the Imanish family, which had judicial and police powers, is located at the West exit of Imai town, and there is a moat on its Western side.
The road in front the residence used to be the main street leading to Sakai. At the Western end of the West gate there used to be a guard's hut. The outer walls of the redidence were completely covered in white plaster. Below both side of the main roog are small parallel roofs. The roofing is of the hongawara-buki（本瓦葺） style, and presents a magnigicent castle-like appearance.
Imaicho has been preserved by endavors of the residents. According to the website of “Mediation for Urban Cnservation:The Case of Imai-cho, Japan”,
The process of designating an historic area as a preservation zone begins by a survey research of the are to determine the measures to be taken for preservation, areas to be preserved, financial allocation, etc.
Conflicts that commonly develop during this period is mitigated through a series of consensus-building exercises. It is usually at this period that residents' associations and groups are formed to mediate between the interests of the land/house owners and the local government. Consensus formation is followed by the designation of the historic area as a 'DenKen Chiku'（伝建地区）. Individual old buildings are simultaneously designated as 'Important Cultural Assets'. Financial assistance, relaxation of building regulations, conformation to historical styles during remodelling/reconstruction etc. are also considered during designation.
A Preservation Council is established to deal with various issues. This is formed by representatives of Ministry of Construction, Agency of Cultural Affairs, the local government as well as residents associations. The Preservation Plan proposed for the historic area first hears opinions from the Council, including the validity of the areas selected for preservation. After necessary modifications, it is thrown open to public hearings. Written reports of conflicts with the Plan are invited from the residents' associations. Their active participation is enlisted to ensure cooperation in implementation of the preservation plan.
TV commercial（Daiwa House）
Imaicho is not only an antique-looking town, but also a sophisticated stage of modern arts. Nara Art Poromnade was held last year. Many TV commercials have been recorded in this town. You will find something new aspects of Japan.
＊TV commercial of Nippon Life
TV commercial (Nanto Bank)
Asuka is located near Imaicho. Kashihara city has modern hotels and traditional Japanese-style ryokans. Imaicho is located a short walk west of Kintetsu Yagi-Nishiguchi Station（近鉄八木西口駅） and less than a ten minute walk from Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station（近鉄大和八木駅）or Unebi Station of Japan National Railways（JR畝傍駅）. The town can also be reached by rental bicycle in about 15 minutes from Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station（近鉄橿原神宮前駅）. Please come to Imaicho！
＊Phone 0744-20-1123 (Kashihara City Tourist Association)
＊English map
