Yanai, the well-preserved town of Edo-period merchant houses and storehouses adorned with goldfish lanterns has plenty of places to enter and explore, many being free.
The Yanai Machinami Museum is housed in the former Suo Bank and offers a wealth of information on local history.
A must visit spot is the huge Sagawa Soy Sauce Brewery.
Housed in a massive wooden building, the company is still a fully operating soy sauce brewery, but also a museum.
A highlight is being able to view the huge vats of fermenting sauce. Obviously the aroma is somewhat overpowering.
They sell a wide variety of different types of soy sauce.
You can even try soy sauce flavoured ice cream.
Next door is Yanai Nishigura where you can try your hand at various local crafts, including Indigo dyeing and of course making goldfish lanterns.
Further up Shirakabe Street is the Shirakabe Gakuyukan which has changing exhibitions of local folklore in a traditional building.
The exhibits also cover some more recent history.
A covered walkway that leads to some more building to the rear passes by a delightful traditional garden.
The Kunimori House is a fine example of a merchant property dating back around 250 years.
The house is open to the public and the rooms are filled with artworks and other artifacts from daily life
However, the biggest site to visit in Yanai would be the Muruya no Sono Merchant House Museum.
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