The street of the frogs

Near Matsumoto Castle, next to a river, there is a street plenty of small shops. The street is called “kaeru”, which in Japanese means many different things; the Japanese language has many homophone words, just like the Chinese language. The three different meanings of “kaeru” that gave name to this street in Matsumoto are: “frog” (蛙), “come back / go back home” (帰る) and “be able to shop” (買える). The locals use the name of the street referring to the three meanings, the street is full of frog statues and is full of places where they are able to shop, and after strolling along the street they go back home. It’s a really curious street and it’s on the way if you go walking from Matsumoto station to the castle.

At the beginning of the street there are some frogs with katanas welcoming visitors.

Small temple dedicated to the “frog gods”

A frog reading.

The river that flows next to the street.

There are frogs even in the beautifying fences!

Money purses like the one that Naruto owns!

One of the shops in the street, where almost anything you could imagine is on sale. Ceramics, books and vegetables, what a mix.

Alberto and I transforming into frogs.

Map of the area. The station is in the lower left part of the map, and the street of the frogs is just across the bridge in the center of the map, heading north, on the way to the castle.