Fukaya was the site of Japan's first mechanized brick manufacturing factory established in the Meiji era. Bricks produced at the factory were used in the construction of architecture representative of the time. These buildings include Tokyo Station, the Ministry of Justice, and the Bank of Japan (former Bank of Japan Building). Also in the downtown area of Fukaya along the former Nakasendo Route, some brick buildings still remain, allowing visitors to recall the spirit of the times.
Also known as the "father of Japanese capitalism," Shibusawa was involved in establishing and managing various companies including the First National Bank and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.