A Fishing Master's L-Shaped Farmhouse
The Yamamoto Family Residence (山本家住宅, Yamamoto-ke jūtaku) is a thatched magariya, or L-shaped house, of the mid-Edo period in Okunoya, Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on February 3, 1976. Its official name, Yamamoto Family Residence (Kamisu Town, Kashima District, Ibaraki Prefecture), keeps the former town name.
Kamisu City and the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education explain that the Yamamoto family lived beside Gonoike pond near the Kashima Sea, served as village headmen from the mid-Edo period, and were masters of beach-seine fishing crews. The Agency for Cultural Affairs likewise describes it as the home of a fishing master on Gonoike. It is privately held (Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education).
The Agency records the main block as 19.7 m by 10.6 m, with a southern wing 3.8 m by 6.9 m, under a Yosemune-zukuri hipped roof of Kayabuki thatch. Ibaraki Prefecture and Kamisu City give the frontage as 19.6 m, a slight difference.
Why It Matters
The Yamamoto Family Residence was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1976. The Agency for Cultural Affairs calls it a hipped, thatched L-shaped house of good quality, well preserved and little altered. Kamisu City notes that only a handful of fishing families' houses in Japan hold this designation; although its plan differs, its structure shares features with southern Ibaraki houses such as the Shiina Family Residence in Kasumigaura, making it important for understanding the region's farmhouses.
Its construction date is unclear, but its techniques suggest the first half of the 18th century (Kamisu City). According to Ibaraki Prefecture, it was heavily altered between 1814 and 1817 and modified further afterwards, then restored to its original form in a two-year full dismantling repair begun in 1992.
What to Look For
Outside, look for the wing projecting from the eastern end of the south front, and for the seigai-zukuri eaves that extend outward along the front and west side (Kamisu City). Ibaraki Prefecture gives the ridge height as 8.98 m, and the thick thatched roof rises high above the walls.
The prefecture also describes the interior. The eastern end, including the wing, is the earthen-floored niwaba, with raised-floor rooms to the west and north. From the south side near the earthen floor run the uchien, the hiroma, the omesama Buddhist altar room and the nishi-heya, and to their west lie three reception rooms: the entrance room, the oku-no-zashiki and the oku-no-ma. Daily living space and the three rooms for receiving guests are laid out separately.
According to Kamisu City, conservation work including a full rethatching of the roof was carried out from June 2021 to December 2022.
Visiting the Yamamoto Family Residence
According to Kamisu City, the exterior can be viewed freely. Viewing the interior requires a reservation at least one week in advance through the Kamisu City Board of Education's Culture and Sports Division (0299-77-7495). On open days no booking is needed: in fiscal 2026 these fall on the first Saturday of even-numbered months (the second Saturday in June), 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and may be cancelled in bad weather.
By car it is about 20 minutes from the Itako Interchange on the Higashi-Kanto Expressway. By local bus from Kashima-Jingu Station or Choshi Station, get off at Okunoya and walk about 5 minutes (Kamisu City).
Q&A
- When was the Yamamoto Family Residence built?
- The date is unclear, but its techniques point to the first half of the 18th century, in the mid-Edo period.
- When was the Yamamoto Family Residence designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On February 3, 1976.
- Can you go inside the Yamamoto Family Residence?
- Yes, with a booking at least a week ahead; on open days (first Saturday of even-numbered months, second Saturday in June) no booking is needed.
- Who lived in the Yamamoto Family Residence?
- A family of village headmen who were also masters of beach-seine fishing crews on Gonoike; very few fishing families' houses in Japan are Important Cultural Properties.
- How do I get to the Yamamoto Family Residence?
- About 20 minutes by car from the Itako Interchange, or a 5-minute walk from the Okunoya bus stop.
Basic Information
| Name | Yamamoto Family Residence (Kamisu Town, Kashima District, Ibaraki Prefecture) (山本家住宅) |
|---|---|
| Location | 4281 Okunoya, Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1976/2/3 (Showa 51) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 19.7 m by 10.6 m, south wing 3.8 m by 6.9 m, hipped roof, thatched |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Exterior free; interior by reservation (no booking on open days) |
References
- Yamamoto Family Residence (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/260
- Yamamoto Family Residence (Cultural Properties of Ibaraki, Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education)
- https://kyoiku.pref.ibaraki.jp/bunkazai/kuni-18/
- Yamamoto Family Residence visitor information (Kamisu City)
- https://www.city.kamisu.ibaraki.jp/kanko_sports/culture/1002532/1002534.html
Last verified: 2026.10.05