Former Iba Residence

The Former Iba Residence is a house museum displaying early 20th-century Japanese architecture with spacious rooms furnished in the traditional style of the period. The building combines Japanese structural elements with Western design influences in a balanced composition.

The residence was designed in 1913 by Merrell Vories Hitotsuyanagi during a period when Japanese architecture was beginning to absorb Western influences. This house represents the emerging modernization of Japanese domestic design in that era.

The residence reveals how prosperous families organized their daily lives through furniture and household objects that remain on display. The rooms show the tastes and comforts that money could provide in this era.

The museum is best experienced through guided tours that explain the architectural features and the historical background of each room. Taking time to observe the details and differences across the house's various spaces helps visitors understand how it was organized.

The house was designed by an American missionary and architect, making it an unusual example of cultural exchange from that era. This collaboration between traditions is woven into the design itself and often goes unnoticed by visitors.