Omi Merchant Townscape (Shinmachi Street in Omihachiman)

About 2km north of JR Omihachiman Station, you’ll find Shinmachi Street, a remarkably well-preserved district that was once home to the prosperous merchants of Omi (modern-day Shiga Prefecture). Rows of stately merchant houses from the late Edo to early Meiji periods still stand here, offering a window into the lives of families who built vast trading networks across Japan and even overseas.
The Omi merchants, known for their innovative business practices and overseas ventures, established shops in Edo and Osaka earlier than most, and several of their original residences remain along Shinmachi Street. Walking the grid-like streets, you can see earthen storehouses and elegant wooden facades, while the nearby Hachiman-bori canal recalls the region’s days as a hub of waterborne commerce.
Omi merchants thrived in Edo, largely due to their home province’s strategic location as a transportation hub on important roads, providing convenient access to Osaka’s huge market. They maintained their base in Ōmi while expanding nationwide.
In Omihachiman, you can also find hands-on experiences like boat tours and indigo dyeing, as well as foods rooted in Edo times, like Omi wagyu beef, which the local Hikone Domain promoted and began raising for its medicinal properties.