Former Aoyama Family Residence

Overview

The Former Aoyama Family Residence is a grand mansion built in his hometown by Ryuichi Aoyama, who achieved great success in the herring fishing industry in Hokkaido during the Meiji era. Four buildings—the main house, a small parlor, and two storehouses (east and west)—are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle and wealth of that time. Visitors can explore the opulent interiors, furnishings, and exhibits that evoke daily life then. The main house, with a frontage of 12 ken and a depth of 7 ken, features a corner projection at the lower front. While the layout of its eight main rooms appears complex at first glance, the progression from the tea room to the inner room, lower parlor, and upper parlor is typical of the Shonai region. The hipped and gabled roof is tiled, with eaves supported by brackets. The interior features luxurious spring lacquerware on pillars, doorframes, and other elements. The detached building was completed a little later in 1896. Its size is 4.5 ken wide and 3 ken deep, with a hipped roof. As Aotsuka was then a fishing village with thatched and bark-covered roofs, the large tiled roof of the main house was a striking display of "returning home in glory." Ryuichi Aoyama dedicated 48 years to fishing before entrusting his Hokkaido fishing grounds to his adopted son, Masayoshi, in 1908, and retiring to Aotsuka. He spent his later years in Aotsuka and Sakata, passing away peacefully at age 81 on April 19, 1916, having witnessed the prosperity of both the Aoyama families in Yamagata and Hokkaido. The Former Aoyama Family Residence is a precious historical site offering a glimpse into the lives of wealthy farmers during the Meiji era. Take your time to explore and imagine the lives lived within these walls.