Kawagoe, Japan

Near Masami's parent's house, there's an area called Kawagoe that flourished as a palace town during the Edo Era. Now there are recent constructions like a train station and high rise apartment buildings, but a little further in, the old town atmosphere resonating with the chimes from the bell tower can be experienced.

Masami's high school classmate Mei was raised in a traditional Edo Era merchant house. It has a two-story storage area (left) that is rarely seen in modern Japan.
This is the entrance to the storage area from inside the house. The structure is raised. Below the floor are windows that can be opened in summer to let in a cool breeze. The walls are 20cm thick plaster. If there's a fire, the storage door can be closed to keep the contents safe. Many years ago, where there was a wide scale fire in Kawagoe, the whole house burned down but the storage was undamaged.
Near the ceiling by the front entrance of the house, there are boxes holding lanterns used in Japanese festivals. These lanterns have been passed down for generations.
The symbol of Kawagoe is this Clock Tower. In olden times, someone would climb the tower to sound the bell each hour. The chiming of the bell is automated now, but the sound remains reminiscent of times long past.