草津宿(Kusatsu unofficial inn town): survived atomic bomb blast
Kusatsu is another unofficial inn town of San’yodo/Saigoku Kaido highway. While the city center of Hiroshima is as completely wiped out by the atomic bomb, most part of Kusatsu survived with minor to moderate damages. This is the reason why we still see some of pre-WWII buildings. Of course, modernization has significantly changed its scene. According to a local guide map, the inn town seems to start here. Saginomori shrine on the right side, was allegedly established in 904. The main building survived atomic bomb blast, according to Hiroshima city. This temple, Jikouji temple, was established in 1447. The Sanmon gate survived atomic bomb blast. Although Kusatsu inn town survived WWII, there are very few of pre-WWII buildings. This is Koizumi family residence. Probably this is the main attraction of Kusatsu unofficial inn town. It was build in late Edo period, and has been still in use as a sake brewery. Meiji emperor stopped by. Across Koizumi family resi...