The Taisho Romance Area is a charming tourist district in Kaminomachi, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture, where the atmosphere and culture of Japan’s Taisho period (1912–1926) are being brought back to life.
Historic buildings have been carefully relocated and preserved here, creating a streetscape where visitors can experience the atmosphere of a bygone era. The area has become a new attraction in central Numata and offers a fascinating glimpse into Japan’s transition from the Meiji period to the early modern era.
The area around Honcho-dori and Kaminomachi, centered on Terrace Numata, a multipurpose complex that also houses Numata City Hall, provides a rare opportunity to encounter architectural heritage from the Meiji and Taisho periods while strolling through the town.
The elegant retro Western-style buildings are also popular as photography spots. The district has been incorporated into sightseeing bus tours, attracting visitors from both within and outside Numata.
One of the defining features of the Taisho Romance Area is its collection of valuable historic buildings dating from the late Meiji to Taisho periods. By 2024, four historic modern buildings had been relocated and preserved here, creating the distinctive townscape seen today.
The area around Honcho-dori was once a thriving commercial center for the Tone-Numata region. Over time, however, the district faced challenges including population decline, an aging population, and increasing numbers of vacant houses and shops.
In response, Numata City began working to revitalize the central urban area by using historic buildings as the foundation for a new townscape.
As part of this initiative, the Ubukata Memorial Library was relocated to Kaminomachi and reopened in 2014. In 2016, the Former Numata Savings Bank, designated an Important Cultural Property by Gunma Prefecture, was relocated from Zaimokucho.
The project continued in 2020 with the relocation of the Former Toki Family Western-Style Residence and the Former Numata Church Memorial Hall of the United Church of Christ in Japan.
In 2023, the Former Kume Family Western-Style Residence was relocated from Shibuya, Tokyo. With these four buildings brought together, the area developed into a distinctive streetscape representing the architectural culture of the Taisho era.
The Former Numata Savings Bank is a two-story wooden pseudo-Western-style building constructed around 1908, during the Meiji period. It is a valuable cultural property that preserves the history of banking and commerce in the Tone-Numata region.
The building combines Japanese and Western design elements, with features such as plastered walls and a hipped roof that convey the architectural character of the period.
Inside, the former banking and office spaces have been recreated. The ceiling of the manager’s office features Kin-kara-kami, a luxurious type of embossed decorative paper historically used in prestigious interiors.
As much of the original material as possible has been reused, while the colors have also been reproduced to reflect the appearance of the building in its original era. The result is a fascinating example of early modern Japanese architecture.
The Former Toki Family Western-Style Residence was built in 1924 in Hiroo, Tokyo, as the Western-style residence of Viscount Akira Toki, a member of the former aristocracy.
The building was designed by Heizaburo Ito and reflects the Jugendstil style that was popular in Germany at the time.
Distinctive features include its steeply pitched roof, ox-eye windows, and stone terrace. The exterior combines German-style wall finishes with foundations made of irregularly laid natural stone, demonstrating careful attention to architectural detail.
The interior features calm plaster-finished spaces. Rather than excessive ornamentation, the design emphasizes comfort and the quality of everyday life, offering an insight into the residential culture of Japan’s Taisho period.
The Former Numata Church Memorial Hall is a wooden church building with a slate roof, constructed in 1914, during the Taisho period.
Its tall sash windows, steeply pitched roof, and weatherboard exterior are characteristic of Western-style architecture from the era.
It is also one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Gunma Prefecture, representing both the history of Christianity in the region and Japan’s modernization during the early twentieth century.
After its relocation, the building retained its historic character and continues to welcome visitors with its quiet and dignified appearance.
The Former Kume Family Western-Style Residence was built around 1912 in Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo. It is said to have once been used as a reception house associated with the residence of the Kishu-Tokugawa family.
The building survived wartime destruction and postwar requisition and escaped demolition. In 2023, it was relocated to Numata City for preservation.
Its tiled exterior walls, gabled roof, and sash windows retain the architectural details of the period, making the building a valuable place to experience the history of urban modern architecture within a regional Japanese city.
The Ubukata Memorial Library is a literary museum dedicated primarily to the works and materials of Tatsue Ubukata, one of Japan’s leading female tanka poets of the postwar era.
The museum was relocated to Kaminomachi in 2014 and serves as an important cultural center within the Taisho Romance Area.
Exhibitions, collaborative displays featuring tanka poetry, small concerts, and workshops are held here, creating an approachable space for discovering Japanese literature.
Through tanka, visitors can also gain an appreciation for the beauty of the Japanese language and the depth of poetic expression.
The Taisho Romance Area is more than a collection of historic buildings. Walking through the district allows visitors to experience the atmosphere of the era itself.
Stone-paved-style walkways and carefully maintained streetscapes provide an attractive setting for the Meiji- and Taisho-era buildings. The area has also become popular with visitors looking for distinctive photography locations.
The district is connected with nearby attractions such as Numata Park and the history museum inside Terrace Numata. Together, these facilities introduce visitors to the history and culture associated with the Sanada and Toki families.
Visitors can also combine their walk with stops at local farmers’ markets, restaurants, and other businesses, making it possible to experience different aspects of Numata’s culture and everyday life.
The Taisho Romance Area also hosts experiential events inspired by its historic streetscape.
The popular Taisho Kimono Experience allows visitors to wear easy-to-don hakama trousers or kimono and stroll around the district with the historic Western-style buildings as a backdrop.
It is an enjoyable way to experience the atmosphere of the Taisho period while taking photographs and exploring the streets on foot.
A convenient combination ticket is available for admission to several facilities in the area, allowing visitors to explore multiple attractions efficiently. The ticket also includes the Former Ubukata Family Residence in Numata Park.
Some of the facilities also hold special exhibitions, giving visitors opportunities to discover something new each time they return.
The Taisho Romance Area is approximately 13 minutes, or 9 kilometers, from the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
Convenient parking is available nearby, including Machinaka Tengu Plaza Parking Lot and Shimonomachi Parking Lot.
From JR Numata Station, take a bus for approximately 6 minutes and get off at the Kaminomachi bus stop. The area is just a short walk from the stop.
The Taisho Romance Area continues to develop as both a center for preserving historic architecture and a place for creating new activity in central Numata.
The relocated buildings represent more than the preservation of old structures. They demonstrate how historic architecture can be given a new role and incorporated into the future of a local community.
As you stroll among these elegant buildings, you can experience the atmosphere of Japan’s transition from the Meiji era into the Taisho period and discover a different side of Numata’s history and culture.
With its historic architecture, literary culture, photography opportunities, and relaxed streetscape, the Taisho Romance Area offers an enjoyable way to experience Numata’s history and the cultural atmosphere of early modern Japan.