Bukeyashiki Street in Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, preserves one of Japan's finest collections of samurai residences from the Edo period. The street earned its name from the buke yashiki or samurai houses that line its paths, dating back to the establishment of Kakunodate as a castle town in 1620 by the Satake clan. The area became home to middle and lower-ranking samurai families who served the local lord, and remarkably, six of these original samurai houses remain open to the public today.
The district's cultural significance extends beyond its architecture. Designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, Bukeyashiki Street showcases classic samurai residential design with its distinctive black wooden fences, nagaya-mon gates, and meticulously maintained gardens. The street is particularly renowned for its weeping cherry trees, some over 300 years old, which create spectacular tunnel-like canopies in spring. These shidarezakura were reportedly brought from Kyoto when the Satake clan relocated from their former domain.
Visitors can explore inside several samurai residences, with the Aoyagi House and Ishiguro House being the most prominent. The Aoyagi House complex functions as a museum displaying samurai armor, antique cameras, and gramophones, while the Ishiguro House remains inhabited by descendants of the original family, offering authentic glimpses into samurai daily life. The Kakunodate Birch Craft Museum also sits along the street, showcasing the region's traditional kabazaiku cherry bark craft, a technique refined by samurai seeking supplementary income during peacetime.
Kakunodate Station connects to the street via a 20-minute walk or short taxi ride. The JR Akita Shinkansen reaches Kakunodate from Tokyo in approximately 3 hours. Admission fees vary by residence, typically ranging from ¥300 to ¥500 per house, with combination tickets available. Some residences like the Ishiguro House charge around ¥400, while the Aoyagi House costs approximately ¥500. The street remains accessible year-round, though spring during cherry blossom season attracts the largest crowds.