Buke Yashiki, Historic house museum in Matsue, Japan.
Buke Yashiki is a historical samurai house in Matsue built in the 18th century for a middle-ranking warrior family. The structure displays traditional Japanese construction with wooden frames, sliding doors, and rooms covered in woven mats, arranged to show the division between formal entertaining spaces and private living quarters.
The house was built in 1733 following a major fire that swept through the city and required extensive rebuilding of the area. It remains standing beside the northern moat of Matsue Castle, reflecting the reconstruction period and development of the samurai quarter.
The name refers to the traditional samurai residence style, and the house shows how middle-ranking warrior families organized their daily routines and spaces. Walking through the rooms, you can observe the objects they used and the way they separated formal areas from private quarters.
The house sits next to Matsue Castle in the historic samurai neighborhood and is easy to reach on foot while exploring the area. You can walk through all the rooms at your own pace and take time to look closely at the objects and architectural details on display.
The inner courtyard features an artificial mound or hill that creates an unexpected sense of landscape within the confined space of the house grounds. This small garden feature shows how warriors sought to bring natural elements into their domestic settings even when space was limited.
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