Kurokabe Square

Kurokabe Square refers to a district of streetscape along the Hokkokukaido road, about a 5-minute walk northeast of JR Nagahama Station. Nagahama prospered economically as a town where many merchants traveled, and many banks once lined the area. Among them, the former 130th National Bank Nagahama Branch, built in the Meiji era, was affectionately called the “Kurokabe Bank.” After various changes over time, this historic bank building was renovated and reopened in 1989 as “Kurokabe Ichigo-kan / Kurokabe Glass Museum.” Centered around it, the area developed into Kurokabe Square, where glass shops, studios, restaurants, cafes, and many other stores now line the streets. The Kurokabe Glass Museum preserves the bank-era interior while displaying and selling glass products from Japan and abroad. Next door, at the Kurokabe Glass Studio, you can watch glass artisans at work up close and purchase their pieces. Other highlights include Kurokabe 13-go-kan, where you can try glassblowing, and Kurokabe 18-go-kan 96CAFE, where you can buy products themed around the local Kurokabe area.