Kano Residence (Kadokura)

Overview

Kano Residence (Kadokura) is a historic building in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Thismachiya-style building, constructed in the mid-Edo period, is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. It once thrived as a purveyor to the Kishu Domain, offering a glimpse into the lives of people during that era. The Kano Residence preserves features characteristic of merchant houses of the time, including clay-walled storehouses (dozo) and tools and furnishings unique to merchants, allowing visitors to imagine daily life then. For example, the first floor includes a former accounting room (jojoba), earth floor (doma), and living and kitchen areas where the family lived. The second floor houses a former storehouse where bedding and clothing were kept. These spaces vividly evoke the life of a merchant family of the time. Many other buildings designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties are located near the Kano Residence, testifying to the prosperity of Wakayama City during that period. For instance, nearby are the Matsuda Residence and Takada Residence, also former purveyors to the Kishu Domain. These buildings, similar to Kano Residence, speak to the flourishing commerce and industry of Wakayama City at the time. The Kano Residence is a significant site for understanding Wakayama City's history. Experience the past by imagining the lives of those who once lived there.