Chōkyū-tei, Traditional house in Kainan, Japan

Chōkyū-tei is a residence in Kainan, Wakayama Prefecture, on the grounds of the sake brewer Nakano BC. It consists of a house and storehouse completed in 1958, now a museum displaying traditional brewing tools, and a 10,000 m² pond garden created in 1952 around a 3,000 m² pond. A 120-tatami hall faces the garden.

This house was built in 1958 and reflects how Japanese homes were constructed after World War II. It shows the direction residential architecture took during the middle of the twentieth century in Japan.

The interior spaces follow traditional Japanese room arrangements with dedicated areas for receiving guests and conducting ceremonies. This layout shows how important structure and respect were in daily household life.

Visits are by reservation only, with entry free of charge; the house and museum open 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00 and close during Obon and the New Year holidays. The site is a 15-minute walk from Kainan Station on the JR Kisei Line. The shop offers tastings of sake and plum juice.

The house retains its original tatami flooring and sliding paper doors that filter light into the rooms gently. These elements were specifically adapted to the humid climate of Wakayama Prefecture.