Kura-no-naka Gallery Manrin Bookstore

This bookstore, which retains remnants of its past, stands along the old highway of Asuke, once bustling with activity as the Salt Road. A bookstore, gallery, and cafe. This bookstore forms part of Manrin Alley, with a beautiful contrast between its plaster and blackboard walls. The name Manrin comes from the store's trade name, Manrin Shoten, and the generational name Hayashi (also read as rin) Uemon used by the family's heads. The bookstore stocks books, with a particular focus on nature and town development. They also sell "Folktales of Asuke," a self-published book that aims to "help people learn more about Asuke." The gallery in the back hosts unique seasonal exhibitions throughout the year, while the cafe serves delicious coffee and homemade cakes.