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(c) Copyright 2002 by Naoya Okutani, edited in Japan All rights reserved.
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Koshoji Betsuin Temple Jinaimachi town was newly developed around the temple in the 16th century. |
Former residence of Sugiyama family - an important cultural asset of the nation. The Sugiyama family is an old family, which continued for generations from the foundation of Jinaimachi, and successive heads of the family used name Chozaemon Sugiyama. They administered the town as one of the Hachinin-shu (8 administrators) throughout the Edo era. The old family business is not clear, but after they obtained a brewery license in the 2nd year of the Teikyo era (1685), they succeeded as a brewery. |
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From the earth-floored entrance hall towards the zashiki (reception room)
at former Sugiyama residence. The former residence of Sugiyama family is now open to the public, including the main building and gardens. |
| Oku-zashiki (reception room or Guest room ) of former Sugiyama residence
The zashiki usualy overlooks an interior landscaped garden,, where the owner could carve out his own piece of paradise, a place to escape the pressure of business and the heat of the summer.(quated from "the Japanese house") |
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Main building of former Sugiyama residence The former Sugiyama residence is the oldest merchant’s house among these private houses,with large scale and superior in quality, therefore it was designated as an important cultural property on December 26th, 1983. |
| Yojin-bori (Moat for fire-fighting) (Main） Okutani's residence (this side)and (east） Okutani residence In between the two houses, there is a small moat in 1.5 meters depth for fire-fighting and sewarage purpose and is the small stone bridge called Gan-ei Hashi alongside Jonomonsuji Street. |
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Landscape of Jonomonsuji Street Storehouse belonging to the residence of Sato family (right) and (south）Okutani's residence (left) |
| Intersection at non-right angles Residence of Kiguchi family The roads called "Atemage-no-michi" mean those roads whcih do not intersect at right angles at each cross road in Jinaimachi town. This could make it diffucult for strangers to look throughout the street. These are reminants of devices to avoid being involved in the battles between feudal warlords in the 16th century. |
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Three-storied storehouse (south) Kuzuhara residence（right）and Kuzahara residence （left） The three-storied storehouse can be rarely seen in Japan and might be called as the landmark of Jinaimachi town. |