The Old Shioya Demise, Traditional merchant house in Toyooka, Japan.
The Old Shioya is a traditional merchant residence in Toyooka built with wooden framework, sliding doors, and tatami floors arranged in carefully designed interior spaces. The structure connects living quarters with business rooms that show how merchants combined family and commerce under one roof.
The house was built during the Edo period as a combined residence and business space for local merchants who helped drive Toyooka's economic growth. It dates from an era when such buildings were central to the region's trade.
The rooms display furniture and objects that reflect how prosperous merchant families lived and organized their daily routines. You can see how living areas and business spaces were connected within the same structure.
The house is best explored by taking time in each room and observing the details of traditional construction throughout. Informational materials in multiple languages help you navigate through the different areas.
The architecture includes special features to protect merchants' valuable goods, including thick earthen walls and hidden storage areas. These safety elements reveal the practical challenges traders faced in that era.
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