Uchiko's name became synonymous with high quality white wax production in the late 19th century. At that time, wealthy local merchants built new homes or added to their own, resulting in beautiful streets lined with large, stylish, Meiji Period houses. The Yokaichi district has since been restored to preserve these buildings.
Yokaichi is comprised of about 90 buildings along a single street. Two of these buildings are open to the public as museums, the largest and most impressive of which is the Kamihaga Residence. A combination ticket for Kamihaga Residence, the Uchiko-za kabuki theater and the Uchiko History Museum is sold for 700 yen from any of those locations.
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Kamihaga Residence
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Hours: 9:00 to 16:30
Admission: 400 yen
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The Kamihaga Residence is one of Uchiko's most interesting buildings, offering visitors a glimpse of how the town prospered by its wax industry. It is open to the public and contains an informative wax museum.
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Machiya Museum
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Hours: 9:00 to 16:30
Admission: free
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The Machiya Museum is a small building at the southern end of the old town, which is open to the public. It shows how a typical merchant's residence looked like during the Edo Period.
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Honhaga Residence
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No Admission
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The Honhaga family was Uchiko's first and primary wax producer. They made Uchiko Wax an international name by visiting the 1900 World Expo in Paris. The Honhaga Residence is a preserved property, which can only be viewed from the outside.
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Omura Residence
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No Admission
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The Omura Residence neighbors the Honhaga Residence and is one of Uchiko's oldest buildings, dating back to the end of the Edo Period. Like the Honhaga Residence, the Omura Residence is not open to the public and can be admired only from the outside.
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Koshoji Temple
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Hours: 9:00 to 16:40
Admission: free
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Koshoji Temple houses a large and impressive statue of a reclining Buddha. The temple grounds are pleasant as well, located at the top of town up a slight elevation and offering a nice view of the streets below.
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