旧本郷家住宅, Traditional residence in Akita Prefecture, Japan
The residence is a wooden structure from the late Edo period in Akita that combines living quarters and working spaces under one roof. Raised floors, sliding paper doors, and tatami-matted walls create a symmetrical interior layout throughout the building.
The residence was built in the late Edo period and shows typical features of merchant houses from the 19th century in northern Japan. It reflects the construction methods common to the region at that time and how prosperous families lived.
The interior spaces follow traditional room divisions with tatami flooring and separate areas for family life and welcoming visitors according to social customs. Walking through these rooms, you can see how daily routines were organized and which spaces served specific purposes in the household.
The building demonstrates how people adapted to cold and damp conditions through its elevated foundation, natural ventilation systems, and thermal insulation using traditional materials. These practical solutions help visitors understand how the climate shaped daily life in northern regions.
The house contains original storage spaces designed specifically for local trading goods, with separate compartments that maintained different temperature zones for preservation. These rooms reveal that the family not only lived here but also ran an important trade business.
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