Shinya Abe Family Residence

About the Shinya Abe Family Residence

The Shinya Abe Family Residence (臣屋阿部家住宅) is a fishing family's house on high ground at Nitoda in the south of Tashirojima, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, whose main house of 1881 and retirement house of 1954 were registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Property structures on September 10, 2019. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as part of the historic landscape of the island villages of Ishinomaki Bay.

According to Ishinomaki City, Tashirojima lies about 17 kilometres south-east of the mouth of the old Kitakami River and has two settlements, Nitoda in the south and Odomari in the north. Islanders cherish cats as guardians of good catches, and a cat shrine stands in the middle of the island (Ishinomaki City).

Two Buildings

The main house is a single-storey hip-and-gable building facing south in the middle of the plot, with an entrance and parlour projecting at the front. The east side is an earth-floored area and the west two staggered rows of rooms, with a 15-mat "okami" room fitted with Buddhist and Shinto altars at the front. The retirement house, a two-storey hip-and-gable building beside the steps on the south side, faces west and has an upstairs reception room with bay windows looking out to sea (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Both were registered as contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency notes that the retirement house adds a modern touch to the layout of a fishing family's compound.

Visiting the Shinya Abe Family Residence

We found no official information on public access to the Shinya Abe Family Residence. As it appears to be a private residence, please view it only from the lane. The address is 28 Nitoda, Tashirohama, Ishinomaki City.