Hosokawa Family Residence

Overview

The Hosokawa Family Residence is a farmhouse from the mid-Edo period located in Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture. Designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, it's a precious historical site offering a glimpse into the lives of people in that era. This house was the residence of the Hosokawa family, who lived there for generations, with the main house estimated to have been built in the early 18th century. The complex includes the main house, a barn, a privy, and a wooden barn, allowing visitors to learn about the lifestyle and architectural styles of the time. The main house features a three-bay layout (Yoko-Sanma-tori), comprising a dirt floor (doma), an earthen floor room (doza), and a tatami-mat room (zashiki). The doma, called "niwa," housed a cooking stove (kamado), a large cooking stove (ookamado), and a rice-pounding mortar (touusu), where meals were prepared. The doza, a living room with tatami mats laid on the earthen floor, featured an irori (sunken hearth) where the family gathered, ate meals, and entertained guests. The zashiki had bamboo flooring covered with tatami mats. In the far north of the zashiki were a raised floor (toko), a Buddhist altar (butsudan), and storage. The pillars are made of chestnut wood, with some parts of the framework using pine. The roof is a hipped gable roof (yorimune) with thatched roofing (kaya-buki) extending down the sides in a tsukudare style. The walls are earthen walls (tsuchi-kabe), with no openings on the west and north sides. The Hosokawa Family Residence is an invaluable resource for understanding the lives and lifestyles of farmers during that period. It's a must-see destination not only for history and architecture enthusiasts but for anyone interested in learning about Japanese history and culture.