Cozy Japanese neighborhood street cat nap
Tranquil Japanese street with warmly lit buildings and a napping cat.

Inami: Yokamachi-dori (Cat Street)

Still dusty from exploring an abandoned clinic, on the way back to the car I chance upon a very pretty little street.

Over there, a first cat is eyeing me. Another, more timid, stays hidden in its clay pot. Then another beckons me into a small shop. They are all beautiful, made from wood, and harmoniously bidding me welcome to Inami!

Inami Yokamachi Street
Inami Yokamachi Street

This ancient stone-paved street, Yokamachi-dori, is the historic centre of the city. At the far end is the Zuisen-ji Temple, whose story begins with a drama: in 1763, flames engulfed the temple and razed it to the ground.

Inami Yokamachi Street
Inami Yokamachi Street

The town commissioned Sanjirō Maegawa, a sculptor from Kyoto widely recognized for his work, especially in Hongan-ji, to carry out the reconstruction. Once his work was finished, he taught his wood-carving skills to four local artisans, who in turn would pass it on to future generations. Today there’s said to be around 200 woodcarving experts. They use around a hundred different chisels!

Since 2018, Inami has been listed as a Japanese heritage site. Inns and businesses have been restored, and cats have settled in there to capture our inner feline. Officially there’s 26 of them to look out for, but amateur woodcarvers amuse themselves by hiding others.

The Japanese are passionate about ranking and recognition of all kinds, and Inami is included in a rather curious collection, “100 Soundscapes of Japan” (残したい日本の音風景100選). The idea is to promote certain pleasant environments by mixing the sounds of Japanese everyday life with those of nature. In other words, shut your eyes and listen!

Having found most of Inami’s cats, I stop by an attractive little stall in the middle of the street. There I find this cat with a very Japanese grin on its face, lapping up a good beer. I can’t resist it; this cat now sits proudly on my desk, reminding me every day that Japan may not be the land of sobriety, but it may well be the land of cats.

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

Instagram

Red banners whisper, Mossy stones lead to the sky— Nature's quiet shrine.  赤い旗が囁き、 苔むした石段が空へ誘う— 自然の静かな神社。 #offbeatjapan #japan #torii #shrinesofjapan #nature #serenity #japaneseforest
Emerald whispers, Water's silky dance glides free, Nature's quiet hymn. エメラルドのささやき、 水の絹の舞、静かな自然の賛歌。 #Akame48 #waterfalllove #serenejapan #mysticalforest #naturephotography #offbeatjapan #japan
Golden sun descends, Cliffs cradle emerald dreams— Nature's fierce embrace. ---黄金の陽、 崖が翡翠の夢を抱く— 自然の強き抱擁。 ---#offbeatjapan #japan #sunsetviews #natureembrace #mountainbeauty #aeriallandscape #dramaticviews
Ancient roots embrace, Rugged bark whispers secrets— Green serenity. ---古代の根 ざらざらした樹皮が囁く— 緑の静寂 ---#ancienttree #mysticalforest #naturewonders #contemplationspot #sereneforest #offbeatjapan #japan
Sakura whispers, Ruby bridge spans tranquil flow, Spring's fleeting embrace. 桜のささやき、 ルビーの橋は静かな流れを渡る、 春の儚い抱擁。 #cherryblossoms #sakura #japan #traditionaljapan #tranquility #natureandarchitecture #offbeatjapan
Weathered wood whispers, White walls gleam in green embrace— Time flows with the stream.朽ちた木がささやき、 緑が抱く白い壁— 時間は川と流れる。#OffbeatJapan #HiddenGems #SereneScenes #Japan #Tradition #PeacefulViews #CulturalHarmony
Wood whispers softly, Frosted glass diffuses light, Harmony stands still. ---木が囁く 曇りガラス光を 調和が静止する ---#offbeatjapan #japan #traditionmeetsnature #serenespaces #ryokan #japanesearchitecture #zenvibes #culturalambiance
Emerald whispers, Mossy roots cradle a dream— Nature's quiet breath. 翡翠の囁き 苔むした根が夢を抱く 自然の静かな息吹 #MountFuji #Yakushima #forestbathing #mossforest #tranquiljapan #offbeatjapan #japan