Meguro Residence, Traditional kominka in Uonuma, Japan
Meguro Residence is a traditional kominka from the late 18th century featuring wooden beams, tatami flooring, and sliding doors arranged in rooms flowing around a central space. The structure has a thick straw roof and includes a specialized window that serves as a smoke outlet for ventilation.
This residence was built in 1797 for a family that rose from warrior status to become prosperous landowners managing multiple villages. Their transition reflected broader changes in Japanese society during this period.
The residence contains a traditional hearth that warmed the home and brought family members together for meals and socializing. This focal point reveals how people organized their daily routines around fire and gathering.
The residence sits on a hillside surrounded by older landscape features and is accessible by footpaths. Visitors walk on tatami matting inside, so removing shoes is necessary when entering the rooms.
The straw roof is specially engineered to handle the heavy winter snows of the Niigata region with reinforced construction against snow load. This building method shows how people adapted their homes to survive extreme seasonal weather.
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