Western-style house of Wasa Down, Colonial residence in Shikoku Mura, Japan.
The Western-style house of Wasa Down is a residential building with colonial architecture featuring wooden frames and Japanese craftsmanship in Shikoku Mura. The rooms are furnished with objects and finishes that show how people lived and used this space.
The building was constructed in 1905 during the Meiji period, when Japan was opening to Western influences. It was moved from Kobe to Shikoku Mura in 1976 as part of efforts to preserve important structures.
The house shows how Japanese craftsmen incorporated Western architecture into their building traditions. The space reveals through its design a time when Japan translated foreign influences into its own cultural framework.
The house is part of an outdoor museum where you can visit several historic buildings in one location. Comfortable walking shoes are helpful since the museum covers a large area with paths between different structures.
The house now serves as a tea house where visitors can experience traditional Japanese tea ceremonies within Western architecture. This unusual combination shows how Japanese customs continue to thrive in contemporary spaces.
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