Sunohara Family Residence (Higashi Higashi Machi, Chiisagata

Sunohara Family Residence: A Treasured Edo-Period Farmhouse in Nagano

Nestled in the rural settlement of Kamamurada along the old Netsu Kaidō road in Tōmi City, Nagano Prefecture, the Sunohara Family Residence (春原家住宅) stands as one of the oldest surviving farmhouses in southeastern Nagano. Dating back to the late 17th century during the Genroku era, this Important Cultural Property offers an extraordinary window into the daily life, agricultural practices, and architectural traditions of Edo-period farming communities in the Shinshū region. With its massive thatched hip roof, expansive earthen-floor workspace, and archaic structural techniques, the residence is a rare and invaluable example of vernacular architecture that has endured for over three centuries.

Historical Background

The Sunohara family served as shōya (village headmen) of Higashi-Ueda Village from the early Edo period, a position that placed them among the most prominent farming households in the area. As shōya, they were responsible for local governance, tax collection, and mediating between the village and the feudal authorities — a role that reflected both their agricultural wealth and their social standing within the community.

Although no documents survive to pinpoint the exact year of construction, careful analysis conducted during conservation and dismantling restoration work revealed several indicators of considerable age. The building employs slender roof beams (koya-bari), rope-bound rafters in the attic space, very few windows and doors, and predominantly wall-based room partitions — all hallmarks of an early construction date. Based on these features, architectural historians have dated the residence to the late 17th century, around the Genroku era (1688–1704).

The Sunohara family continued to live in the residence until the postwar period, when they moved to a newer house built on the same property. The historic residence remains privately owned by the Sunohara family to this day, and has been carefully maintained and opened for public viewing.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The Sunohara Family Residence was designated a National Important Cultural Property on June 2, 1973. The designation recognized several key factors that make this farmhouse architecturally and historically significant.

First, the residence is one of the oldest surviving examples of its type in the region. Among the farmhouses of southeastern Nagano that share a similar building tradition, the Sunohara residence is exceptionally ancient, predating many comparable structures by decades.

Second, when the building is restored to its original configuration, approximately half of the total floor area was occupied by the doma — the large earthen-floored workspace used for cooking, agricultural processing, and housing horses. This unusually high ratio of doma to living space is a defining characteristic of traditional farmhouses in the southeastern Nagano highlands and demonstrates a way of life in which work and domestic activities were closely integrated under one roof.

Third, the structural system is notably archaic: numerous closely spaced pillars support the framework, a technique that predates the more open floor plans that became standard in later centuries. This dense pillar arrangement provides invaluable evidence of early timber-frame construction methods in the Japanese countryside.

Architectural Highlights and Features

The Sunohara Family Residence is a single-story structure with a south-facing orientation, measuring approximately 19.1 meters across the front (桁行) and 7.8 meters in depth (梁間). The building is crowned by a magnificent yosemune-zukuri (hip-roof) form covered in kaya (miscanthus grass) thatch — a roofing style prized for its rainwater drainage efficiency and its striking visual profile.

The interior is organized into several named spaces that reflect the rhythms of Edo-period rural life. The daidoko is the expansive earthen-floored area that served as the main workspace, incorporating a built-in stable (umaya) where horses were kept under the same roof as the family. The chanoma (tea room) features an irori hearth, around which the family would gather for meals and warmth. Family members sat on woven straw mats called "neko" — a custom particular to Shinshū, where cotton was scarce. The zashiki served as the formal reception room, while the oheya, nedoko, and kitanoma provided private sleeping and storage quarters.

Above the entryway side of the doma, a ladder leads up to a second-floor storage loft — a feature that was extremely rare in Edo-period farmhouses and is considered a mark of the family's wealth and prominence. The thatched roof itself is a masterpiece of traditional craftsmanship, with the ridge (mune) representing the most sacred and technically demanding element of a thatcher's work.

Visitor Information

The Sunohara Family Residence is open for free public viewing. Visitors can typically enter the building when it is unlocked; the doors may appear closed but are often left accessible. The interior is quite dark, so allow your eyes a moment to adjust upon entering. There is parking space available directly in front of the building.

As the residence remains privately owned, visitors are kindly asked to be respectful of the property and its surroundings. Photography is generally permitted inside the building.

Access

The Sunohara Family Residence is located at Ōaza Kazu 7192-1, Tōmi City, Nagano Prefecture. By car, it is approximately 10 minutes from the Tōbu Yunomaru Interchange on the Jōshin-etsu Expressway. By train, take the Shinano Railway to Tanaka Station, from which the residence is about 15 minutes by car or taxi.

Nearby Attractions

A visit to the Sunohara Family Residence pairs beautifully with explorations of the wider Tōmi City area, which is rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty.

• Unno-juku (海野宿) — One of the best-preserved post towns along the Hokkoku Kaidō highway, Unno-juku features about 100 historic buildings dating from the Edo and Meiji periods. Designated a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, the town offers a charming streetscape with latticed facades, udatsu fire walls, and a central water channel. Located approximately 15 minutes by car from the Sunohara residence.
• Yurakurikan (湯楽里館) — A hot spring facility surrounded by vineyards, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The second floor houses a wine museum showcasing the Chikumagawa Wine Valley.
• Villa d'Est Garden Farm and Winery — A renowned winery and restaurant set amid beautiful gardens, producing award-winning wines from locally grown grapes.
• Raiden Tameemon Birthplace (力士雷電生家) — The historic birthplace of Raiden Tameemon (1767–1825), one of the greatest sumō wrestlers in Japanese history, who won an astonishing 254 of his 263 career bouts.
• Ikenodaira Wetland (池の平湿原) — A highland marsh at approximately 2,000 meters elevation on the Yunomaru Plateau, known for its alpine wildflowers including Japanese irises and azaleas.