Tōdai-ji Yokoe Shōen

Tōdai-ji Yokoe Shōen is an estate in Ishikawa with traditional Japanese wooden structures, dark-tiled roofs, and lattice doors. The buildings follow the regional construction style from feudal times and preserve these historical building methods.

The estate arose during the Edo period when maritime trade from kitamaebune ships shaped the region's economy. Prosperous merchant properties like this developed because of shipping activity along the Sea of Japan coast.

The place reflects how a prosperous merchant family lived, with their daily routines shaped by trade and regional connections. The surviving rooms show the domestic spaces where such families worked and spent their time.

The neighboring house can be visited daily and provides insight into the historical rooms and their layout. Comfortable shoes help when walking the uneven paths between the structures.

The place shows how closely wealth and seafaring were connected in this region, which is reflected in the building layout and room arrangement. Visitors can understand what importance these trade routes held for the family's daily life.