Traditional Japanese House Yamaju Residence Cultural Heritage Seminar

The old Yamaju Residence is located along the old highway in the Nakatsu Kumazaka district of our town, which has been selected as one of "Kanagawa's 100 Best Townscapes," retaining its original appearance. The Yamaju Residence is an example of the residence of wealthy farmers in this region during the early Meiji period, and Aikawa Town has worked to restore and preserve the building and gardens for future generations. In January 2009, it was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

This is the former residence of Hanbei Kumasaka, a wealthy farmer in the Nakatsu district, built in 1883 (Meiji 16). "Yamaju" is the family name of the Kumasaka family. It has a tiled roof and a hipped roof structure, and the interior has a large room with a tatami room decoration. The layout consists of six rooms, with the building facing almost west, an earthen floor on the south side, and six rooms on the north side. The building materials are zelkova wood, the main pillar is about 50 centimeters square, and the upper section is a single plank about 62 cm wide and 713 cm long. In 1944 (Showa 19), it came into the possession of the philosopher Shumei Okawa, and after Okawa's death, it passed through several other owners before becoming the town's property in 1988 (Showa 63). After some restoration, it has been open to the public since 1989 (Heisei 1).