Kurokabe Square

Kurokabe Square is a historic district in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, located on the northeastern shore of Lake Biwa. The area occupies the former castle town of Nagahama Castle, where Hideyoshi Hashiba, who unified Japan over 400 years ago during the Warring States Period, became a castle lord for the first time. The district preserves traditional architecture from the Edo and Meiji periods. Approximately two million visitors arrive annually, making it Shiga Prefecture's most popular tourist destination.

The centerpiece is the Kurokabe Glass Shop, housed in a Western-style building constructed in 1900 as the Nagahama branch of the 130th National Bank. Its walls were coated with black plaster, earning the nickname "Kurokabe Bank." After serving as business offices and a Catholic church, local volunteers preserved the structure and reopened it in 1989 as a glass shop displaying approximately 30,000 domestic and foreign glass products. The area consists of approximately 30 numbered buildings (Kurokabe Building 1 through 30) housing museums, galleries, workshops, restaurants, and cafes. Kurokabe Square is recognized as the largest glass art exhibition area in Japan.

Visitors can explore glass shops displaying accessories, tableware, and music boxes from Japan and abroad. The Kurokabe Glass Studio allows observation of craftsmen demonstrating glass-blowing and engraving techniques. Multiple workshops offer hands-on experiences including sandblasting (from 1,620 yen), stained glass making (from 3,780 yen), and glass accessory creation. Additional activities include ceramic making at Hokkokugama, figure crafting at the Kaiyodo Figure Museum, and music box decoration. Advance reservations are required for most workshops.

Kurokabe Square is located 5 minutes on foot from Nagahama Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line. From Tokyo, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara (approximately 2 hours), then transfer to the Hokuriku Line for a 10-minute journey to Nagahama. From Kyoto, the shinkansen to Maibara takes 20 minutes. By car, the district is 10 minutes from Nagahama Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway. Tours are free, though individual museums and workshops charge separate fees. The outdoor district and most galleries have no admission charge.