Narai-juku is a post town on the Nakasendo road in the Edo period, located in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture. It is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government, and even among the Nakasendo roads, where the song goes, "The Kisoji Road is all in the mountains," the beautiful townscape that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period is particularly attractive. The old townscape that stretches for about 1 km gives the feeling of having traveled back in time, attracting many history lovers and tourists. The unique architectural style called Dashibari-zukuri and the houses with latticed doors tell us of the prosperity of those days.

In the post town, there are many old-fashioned souvenir shops, restaurants, inns, sake breweries, etc. lined up. There are many shops that sell traditional crafts unique to Shinshu, such as woodwork and lacquerware, so one of the pleasures is to look for souvenirs while strolling around. There are also plenty of restaurants where you can taste local cuisine made with local ingredients, so you can enjoy the flavors of Shinshu while soothing your tiredness from your trip.

Narai-juku shows different beautiful faces in each season: the fresh greenery of spring, the deep green of summer, the autumn leaves, and the snowy scenery of winter. In particular, there are fewer tourists in the early morning and at dusk, and you can enjoy an even more nostalgic atmosphere.

Narai-juku is also famous as a production area of ​​Kiso lacquerware. There are many lacquerware workshops and stores in the town, where you can experience the traditional craft of Kiso lacquerware.

There are both free and paid parking lots.

[Trivia]
Narai-juku flourished in the Edo period and was known as "Narai Senken," with a row of inns. It is said to have been one of the largest post towns on the Nakasendo road.