Former Site of Kinomoto-Juku Wholesale Market
This tall neoclassical building with Ionic columns hardly calls to mind sword-bearing samurai or shogunate officials. However, many such travelers stopped here to exchange horses or procure travel documents during the Edo period (1603–1867). At that time, this spot was occupied by a traditional wooden building which contained a wholesale market. In 1935, it was replaced by a Western-style bank. Today, this building is the Kinomoto Exchange Hall, which hosts cultural events throughout the year.
Kinomoto Livestock Market
This section of the Hokkoku Kaidō Road once hosted the biannual Kinomoto Livestock Market, where cattle and horses were sold. The market was first held during the Muromachi period (1392–1573) and continued until the early twentieth century. To place a bid, a potential buyer would put their hand into the seller’s sleeve and indicate a price by grasping or bending a certain number of the seller’s fingers. When a deal was struck, both buyer and seller would clap their hands, an action which constituted a binding contractual agreement.