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  Daimyocho street comes to end just before Metoba-gawa river, because the old downtown was bordered by Sobori, i.e. the outermost moat, which was reclaimed in Meiji Revolution. There was the southend of the castle's defence- zone.
  The moat used to run in parallele with the river, divided with a narrow bank in Edo period.
  Thus there was a way, narrow like a rope, on the bank on which the guard- soldiers were watching around the moat. As the rope made of paddy plants is called Nawa, the way got used to be called Nawate.

▲In front of Chitosebashi bridge Daimyosho street comes to the end. The entrance to Nawate street is on the lefthand. There are a statue of giant frogs.

  In those days the outermost moat turned northwards in right angle at the place called Hitotsu-bashi now. Thus Nawate is the narrow square along Metoba-gawa from Chitose-bashi to Hitotsu-bashi.
  The picture above shows a view of northern foot of Chitose-bashi. The entrance of Nawate-dori street is on the left hand at which the statue of big frogs is set.
  By the way, the would-be outermost moat was Sobori which encircled the larger defence-zone, involving the downtowns, of the castle. In Japanese such a zone was called Nawabari. i.e. the grand defence scheme.
  The border-line rpresented by moats or river were called Mizu-nawate, i.e. the water-outline.
  Then the squares along such a border-line was called Nawate. Among them, around Matsumoto Castle the square along the northern river-bank has gotten used to be called Nawate.

In Meiji Revolution almost castles as symbols of the old regime was totally or partly distroyed uner the order of the new government.   In Matsumoto the south-west parts of Ninomaru-bori and almost parts of Sobori were reclaimed. On the southmost site of the latter a lot of the open-stalls were made and it became the busiest square.   In several years just after the World War �U, there appeared a black market. Thereafter the town in disorder was formed, where many tiny shops popular were standing. But 2001 the town was thoroughly reformed to reappear as a town of the traditional taste. ▲Chitosebashi bridge over Metobagawa ▼Out of the street the contemporary building are standing   Getting into the street, we would find the old fashioned town.   Nawate-dori looks like a town in front of the old temple-gate. The street along which tiney shops stand side by side is paved with stone- tiles. I like such a traditional townscape. But as behind it Yohashira Shrine is standing, it is indeed Monzen-machi. ▲An antique shop ▲An old clock of the shop tick away special time going only here.   There are some shops selling the antique and the traditional or folkcraft-arts along the street. They bring out the historic taste atmosphere. You would feel a unique time passing there. ▲Folkcraft shop ▲Tiny shops standing side by side

North entrance to Nawate town Metobagawa flows behind Nawate street. Shop-houses standing side by side on the riverside-bank (left hand). The bridge over there is Hitotsubashi. And a distant view of Utsukushigahara highlands above it. Paved Street only for walkers There the old fashined town of flat shop-houses next to the boulevard along which the contemporary buildings are standing. Now in the early morning. Many people will take a rest at cafeterias here and there. An antique shop in the old fashioned house Frogs are enshrined there. Trees and plants scattering Yohasjira-jinja shrine is lying at the center of Nawate town. Many trees and plants in its precincts form the green park to bring there a calm atmosphere.