横手市増田伝統的建造物群保存地区, Traditional buildings conservation district in Yokote, Japan
The Masuda district in Yokote is a conservation area with traditional Japanese buildings mainly from the Edo period. The houses contain special storage rooms called uchigura that are built directly into the residential structures and formerly served to store goods.
The area developed during the Edo period when local merchants settled here and built houses combining living spaces with storage functions. This building style emerged from the practical need to store goods securely while remaining close to family.
The buildings preserve the names of merchants who once operated here, connecting residents to the area's commercial past. Walking through the streets reveals how living spaces and work areas were inseparably linked in daily life.
The district is best explored on foot since the streets are narrow and not suited for vehicles. It helps to move slowly and take time to observe the details of individual buildings.
The uchigura storage rooms are remarkable because they are fully built into the house walls and do not exist as separate buildings. This was a particularly space-saving and practical solution for merchants who needed their homes and storage under one roof.
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