What Is the Mekari Family Residence?
The Mekari Family Residence (銘苅家住宅, Mekari-ke Jūtaku) is a high-ranking family's homestead on Izena Island in Izena Village, Okinawa Prefecture, built in 1906, and its main house and asagi were designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on June 27, 1977.
Izena Island is known as the birthplace of King Shō En, founder of the Second Shō dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as the island where the Shō line is said to have begun. According to the Izena Island Tourism Association, the Mekari family descends from Shō En's uncle (his father's younger brother) and held the post of jitō, the local official, for generations. The national database says the family served as the island's chief jitō.
The Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau adds that the Mekari family was responsible for rituals and ceremonies connected with the royal house, and that as representatives of the royal relatives living on the island they often travelled to Shuri for audiences with the king. The Mekari Family Residence is now owned by Izena Village.
Why the Mekari Family Residence Was Designated
The Agency for Cultural Affairs acknowledges that a house built in 1906 is fairly recent, but praises the Mekari Family Residence for preserving the traditional form of an Okinawan dwelling. It escaped wartime destruction and, in the agency's words, stands out even among the few surviving houses in the prefecture for its quality and condition. Together with the main house and the asagi, a detached reception wing, the surrounding stone wall survives, so the whole layout of a high-status Okinawan residence can still be read. For that reason the house plot was designated along with the buildings, and 1 section of stone wall is included as a Tsuketari (attached item).
The main house is two connected blocks. The front block, the ufuya, measures 11.7 by 9.7 meters, with a hipped roof (Yosemune-zukuri) of round-and-flat clay tiles (Hongawarabuki) and earthen-floored eaves (Tsuchibisashi) on the south, east, and west. The kitchen block, the tungwa, measures 4.8 by 5.7 meters with the same roof form; it joins the ufuya on its east side and has deep eaves on the south, north, and west.
The asagi measures 6.9 by 7.0 meters, again hipped and tiled, with eaves on the south and west. The national database describes it as a detached sitting room, built as a separate building from the main house.
What to Look For at the Mekari Family Residence
As you approach the Mekari Family Residence, the stone wall and gate come first. The Izena Island Tourism Association lists the red-tiled main house, the hinpun screen wall, the roofed gate, and the dignified stone walls as the features to see. The wall and gate are also part of what the Agency for Cultural Affairs valued in the layout.
Through the gate, the hinpun blocks the direct view, and the broad red roof appears beyond it. Because the ufuya has deep eaves on three sides, its roof reaches far out over a line of posts, and standing beneath it you can feel how Okinawan houses were built to shed fierce sun and heavy rain.
The smaller tungwa roof continues to the west of the ufuya. With the asagi, that makes 3 hipped red-tile roofs on the plot. Comparing their sizes and orientation is the easiest way to see the division of roles among formal rooms, kitchen, and detached wing.
Visiting the Mekari Family Residence
According to the Izena Island Tourism Association, the Mekari Family Residence can be visited from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day of the year, free of charge. The grounds are unstaffed and there is no guide. You may walk around the grounds freely, but no information is given about entering the buildings, so contact the Izena Village Board of Education (0980-45-2318) if you want details. No photography rules are posted either. Free parking is available near the site.
Izena Island is reached by ferry from Unten Port in Nakijin, in the north of Okinawa's main island. The tourism association gives the crossing as about 55 minutes, with 2 to 3 sailings a day and an adult one-way fare of 1,840 yen. Driving from Naha Airport to Unten Port takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via the Okinawa Expressway. Sailings can be cancelled or rescheduled in bad weather, so check that day's status before setting out.
From Nakada Port, the island's gateway, the Mekari Family Residence is about 5 to 10 minutes by car. Rental cars and bicycles are available on the island.
Q&A
- Can I visit the Mekari Family Residence, and what are the hours and fee?
- According to the Izena Island Tourism Association, it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day of the year and admission is free. The grounds are unstaffed, with no guide on site.
- When was the Mekari Family Residence built and designated?
- The national database dates it to 1906, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property on June 27, 1977.
- Which buildings are included in the Mekari Family Residence designation?
- Two buildings: the main house (ufuya and tungwa) and the asagi. One section of stone wall is included as an attached item, and the house plot is also part of the designation.
- Who lived in the Mekari Family Residence?
- A family said to descend from the uncle of King Shō En, which served as local officials (jitō) for generations. The Agency for Cultural Affairs says it held the post of chief jitō of Izena Island.
- How do I get to the Mekari Family Residence?
- Take the ferry from Unten Port to Izena Island (about 55 minutes), then drive about 5 to 10 minutes from Nakada Port. Unten Port is about 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Naha Airport.
Basic Information
| Name | Mekari Family Residence (Izena Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture) (銘苅家住宅) |
|---|---|
| Location | 902 Izena, Izena Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | June 27, 1977 |
| Quantity | 2 buildings (main house, asagi); attached: 1 stone wall; house plot included |
| Dimensions | Main house: ufuya 11.7 m × 9.7 m, tungwa 4.8 m × 5.7 m / asagi 6.9 m × 7.0 m |
| Owner | Izena Village |
| Public Access | Grounds open freely (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., every day, free, unstaffed) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Mekari Family Residence, Main House
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/3670
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Mekari Family Residence, Asagi
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/3671
- Izena Island Tourism Association: Mekari Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://izena-kanko.jp/introduce/mekaruke/
- Izena Island Tourism Association: Access Guide to Izena Island (Japanese)
- https://izena-kanko.jp/access/
- Okinawa Story (Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau): Mekari Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://www.okinawastory.jp/spot/30000049
Last verified: 2026.10.03
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Mekari Family Residence (Izena Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture) Asagi (Detached Guest Wing) 0.00 km
- Mekari Family Residence (Izena Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture) Main House 0.01 km