Kamiyashiki of Matsudaira Tadamasa, Samurai residence in Ōtemachi, Japan
The Kamiyashiki was a large samurai residence in Ōtemachi enclosed by high white walls, watchtowers, and multiple gates with a small moat protecting three sides. The complex followed shoin design principles with two large timber roofs and incorporated architectural features typical of early Edo-period mansions.
The residence belonged to Matsudaira Tadamasa, a Fukui Domain daimyo and grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, until the Great Fire of 1657 destroyed it. This catastrophe marked the end of one of Edo's most prominent samurai mansions during the city's early period.
The residence reflected traditional samurai architectural values, combining regional building styles with design choices that expressed the owner's standing in Edo society. Visitors to the museum model can observe how such dwellings shaped the urban landscape and social structure of the capital.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum displays a detailed 1 to 30 scale model of the residence that allows close examination of its architectural layout. Visitors can study the room arrangement and construction methods typical of a high-ranking samurai dwelling through this museum display.
The complex featured a special entrance gate adorned with golden phoenixes, reserved exclusively for visits from the shogun and other high-ranking guests. This ornate gatehouse symbolized the owner's closeness to political power during the Edo period.
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