安藤家洋館, Historic mansion in Akashi, Japan.
The Ando mansion is a stone residential structure featuring three interior courtyards that connect separate living areas. These courtyards include gardens and outdoor spaces designed for different household activities and movement between rooms.
This residence was built in 1919 by merchant Ando Shintaro, who died before the project was completed. The mansion served as the setting for his funeral, marking its only initial use before being preserved.
The building blends Western architectural style with Japanese design principles visible in its traditional earthen floor entrance and family quarters. This mixing of approaches reflects how people in this era adapted foreign ideas to their own homes.
The building sits roughly 330 meters (1,080 feet) from JR Kobe Line Okubo Station and is easy to locate along the former Sanyo Road in the residential area. Walking from the station takes only a few minutes to reach the entrance.
A specialized wood stove sits in the entrance area designed specifically for winter activities like roasting sweet potatoes. This practical feature shows how the entry space also served as a working area for daily family routines.
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