Nawate Dori

Nawate Dori
aka Frog Street

Located south of Matsumoto Castle, Nawate Street is a 200-metre long quaint, brick street along the Metoba River that has been around since the 1500s and is littered with frogs of all sizes, albeit inanimate ones.
In the past, many Kajika frogs populated the area as they chorused in unison for the locals. But in 1959, Typhoon 7 brought two days of rain in Matsumoto, which caused the Metoba River to overflow as the washed up debris blocked the bridges. Nawate Street and the surrounding streets were flooded as a result.
This made the frogs leave for higher ground and cleaner water upstream. Despite the efforts of the people in cleaning up the river, the frogs did not return. In the frogs’ place, many artificial ones were constructed to bring Nawate Street’s spirit back.
In 1972, the “Kaeru Daimyoujin”, a mini frog shrine, was created to rejuvenate the old street. Nawate Street was then coined “Kaeru Machi” (‘Frog Street’), a place where locals and travellers could bask in the lively atmosphere of the past.
https://en.japantravel.com/nagano/frog-street-nawate-dori-in-matsumoto/41259

See also:> https://taiken.co/single/take-a-stroll-down-frog-street

[video, Movie, Matsumoto, Japan]