Shikemichi

"This former castle town merchant district developed alongside the construction of Nagoya Castle in the early Edo period. After a great fire occurred in the area in 1700, the width of the roads was expanded to four ""ken"" (about seven meters) to help prevent the spread of future fires, giving rise to the area's name, which literally means ""four 'ken' road town."" The area's distinctive townscape is comprised of groups of kura storehouses standing on stone basis, rows of merchant homes, and rooftop shrines. During Japan's period of rapid modernization, many of the kura storehouses in the area were demolished, but today those that remain are now being uses as-is to host cafes, restaurants, and bars."