Yame-Fukushima, located in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, has flourished as a merchant town since ancient times, and even now, the town is lined with traditional buildings featuring white walls and lattice doors, vividly retaining the charm of its former days.
Yame, known for producing the finest gyokuro, has a culture rich in history as a production area for lanterns and Buddhist altars, with townhouses built in the earthen storehouse style that evoke the appearance of the Edo period. Please enjoy a relaxing travel experience in Yame Fukushima, where history and daily life harmoniously coexist.
Town of merchant houses with lingering memories
Nestled among the mountains of Chikugo, Yame-Fukushima features the clear Yabe River flowing through it. Since the Edo period, it has developed as a merchant town, and even now, beautiful streets lined with traditional townhouses and white-walled storehouses remain. The streets with lattice-doored houses and stone-paved paths exude a nostalgic and warm atmosphere.
The town of Yame, where the culture of craftsmanship thrives through items like Yame lanterns and Yame stone lanterns, conveys the traces of its history alongside skilled artisans. Scattered throughout are historical buildings, including the former Ouchi residence, and shops that carry on the culture of tea, allowing visitors to experience the unique culture and lifestyle of Yame in a leisurely flow of time.
Please take the time to enjoy the emotionally rich streets of Yame-Fukushima, adorned with the craftsmanship of artisans and the fragrance of tea.
Traditional Building Preservation District
The Fukushima area, located in the center of Yame, is a district known for its beautiful streets lined with white-walled townhouses, and it is one of the most notable preservation districts for traditional buildings in Fukuoka Prefecture.
In this area, which once thrived as a merchant town, there are accommodations, cafes, and restaurants that make use of townhouses over 100 years old, allowing visitors to spend a leisurely time in a nostalgic landscape.
As you walk through the town, you should be able to experience the unique culture and vibrancy of life in Yame, with places like 'Unagi no Nedoko' that promotes local charm and the retro atmosphere of Dobashi Market.
Please enjoy 'another Yame,' wrapped in the fragrance of culture, which is different from its rich nature.
White-walled townscape
The townhouses of Yame Fukushima are mostly built in the dozo style, featuring a combination of commercial and artisan characteristics, with about 150 buildings from the Edo, Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods lined along the old highway.
In the spacious streets, traditional townhouses that support the local industries and crafts of Yame, such as sake brewing, tea wholesaling, and washi shops, are scattered about. Each of them has a striking presence with impressive white walls and tiled roofs.
The green carpet spreads over "Yame Chuo Ochaen"
Starting from the tea production methods that were passed down during the Muromachi period, Yame, which still produces the high-quality tea 'Yame Gyokuro', is one of Japan's foremost tea-producing areas.
The tea plantation, covering approximately 70 hectares in a hilly area, transforms into a breathtaking sea of green during the tea-picking season in April and May. From the observation point, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the landscape resembling a 'green carpet,' as well as vistas extending to the Ariake Sea and Shimabara Peninsula.
In spring, the contrast with the cherry blossoms is beautiful, making it a special place where nature and tea culture harmonize.
