Goto Family Residence Main House

A Meiji-era house on the old road

The Goto Family Residence Main House (後藤家住宅主屋) in Akutami, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, is the principal dwelling of the Goto family compound, built in 1895 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 4, 2021 (number 21-0286).

The Goto Family Residence Main House stands on the west side of the Gujo Kaido, just north of the gate in the middle of the compound's east frontage. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as the modern home of a prominent merchant family, noting the care given to its transoms and metal fittings. It went up 4 years after the Nobi earthquake of 1891 struck the region.

Six rooms in two rows

The Goto Family Residence Main House is a single-storey timber house with a gabled roof running east to west, wrapped on all four sides by lean-to eaves (Geya). Every slope is laid with pantiles (Sangawara-buki). The building area is 118 m².

The entrance sits toward the east end of the south side, with the kitchen behind it to the north. West of this working zone, the raised floor is divided into six rooms in two rows, with a veranda turning from the south side round to the west. The westernmost rooms form a connected suite of formal Zashiki reception rooms, and a bathroom is attached southeast of the entrance.

The best rooms sit at the far west end, as far from the road as the plan allows. They turn away from the street toward the garden and the detached house beyond it.

Craft in the details

The Goto Family Residence Main House was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. What the official description singles out is detail: the openwork Ranma transoms and the metal fittings, finished with more care than a plain house would need. The description uses these details to place the house among the homes of the district's leading merchants.

Within the compound, the detached house lies west across the garden and is linked to the main house by a covered corridor. The storehouse stands to the south, and the former post office lies on the far side of the gate.

Visiting

The Goto Family Residence Main House is a private home and its interior is closed to the public. It stands behind the gate and walls, so from the road little more than part of its roof is likely to be visible.

The story of the compound, what can be seen from the road and directions are on the Goto Family Residence page.