A Thatched Farmhouse High in the Iya Valley
The Chiiori (篪庵) is a thatched farmhouse of the mid-Edo period (1661 to 1751) in Higashiiya Tsurui, Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber house with a thatched roof, covering 128 square metres, restored in 2010; registration number 36-196.
A Farmhouse in the Upper Iya Valley
Chiiori is the former main house of a farm in the hamlet of Tsurui on the upper Iya River: a thatched building under a hipped roof, facing east (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its outer walls are protected with flattened split bamboo.
From the north it has three rooms in a row, the chanoma living room with its earth floor, the nakanoma and the omote front room, with a sleeping room behind the nakanoma and a veranda along the omote (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape, as a house on a hillside with a fine view that forms the heart of the mountain hamlet.
What to Look For
Look for the walls faced with flattened bamboo and the great thatched roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The Japan National Tourism Organization lists Chiiori as lodging for up to 7 guests, with stays of at least one night. It is about 40 minutes by car from JR Oboke Station.
Q&A
- When was Chiiori built?
- In the mid-Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How is the name read?
- Chi-i-o-ri (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How is the house laid out?
- Three rooms in a row: chanoma, nakanoma and omote.
- Can I stay at Chiiori?
- Yes, it is listed as lodging for up to 7 guests (JNTO).
- When was the Chiiori registered?
- On September 10, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Chiiori (篪庵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 209 Higashiiya Tsurui, Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2019/09/10 (Reiwa 1) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, thatched roof, 128 m² |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency database |
| Public Access | Lodging (up to 7 guests, 1 night or more) |
References
- Chiiori (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012991
- Chiiori (Japan National Tourism Organization)
- https://www.japan.travel/experiences-in-japan/jp/448
Last verified: 2026.10.17