Former Miyaji Family Residence: A Window into Edo-Period Rural Life in Ōmi Province
Nestled within the serene grounds of the Ōmi Fudoki no Oka historical park in Azuchi, Shiga Prefecture, the Former Miyaji Family Residence (旧宮地家住宅) stands as one of Japan's most well-preserved examples of an 18th-century rural farmhouse. Originally built in 1754 in the village of Kunitomo, Nagahama — a settlement famous as one of Japan's foremost gun-making centers during the Sengoku period — this modest thatched-roof dwelling was designated as a national Important Cultural Property in 1968. Relocated to its present site within the grounds of the Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum, the house offers visitors an authentic glimpse into the daily life of ordinary farming families in the northern Lake Biwa region during the Edo period.
Historical Background
The Miyaji family were middle-class farmers residing in Kunitomo-chō, a village along the Ane River in what is now Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. While Kunitomo is widely renowned as a center of gun manufacturing — where skilled blacksmiths began producing firearms as early as 1544 under orders from the Ashikaga shogunate — not all residents were engaged in the weapons trade. The Miyaji family, like many of their neighbors, made their living through agriculture, representing the everyday rural populace that formed the backbone of Edo-period society.
The exact construction date of the residence was confirmed through an ink inscription (墨書札) discovered during dismantling and restoration work, which recorded the year Hōreki 4 (1754). This places the house firmly in the mid-Edo period, a time when the Kunitomo area was under direct shogunal control as a tenryō (direct domain of the Tokugawa shogunate). In 1968, the residence was designated as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government, recognized for its excellent state of interior preservation and the valuable insight it provides into the vernacular architectural traditions of the Lake Biwa region.
Why It Was Designated as an Important Cultural Property
The Former Miyaji Family Residence earned its designation as a national Important Cultural Property for several compelling reasons. First and foremost, the house is remarkably well preserved in its interior arrangement, retaining features that convey the archaic building traditions of the Kohoku (northern Lake Biwa) region. The structure is classified as a small-scale dwelling with a simple floor plan and unpretentious construction — qualities that, paradoxically, make it exceptionally rare and valuable, as such humble homes were typically the first to be demolished or extensively modified over time.
The residence belongs to the regional architectural typology known as "Ika-zukuri Yogo-gata" (伊香造余呉型), a farmhouse style characteristic of the area north of Lake Biwa. This classification connects it to a broader tradition of vernacular building in the Ōmi region, making it an important reference point for understanding how ordinary people lived and built their homes in preindustrial Japan. As thatched-roof farmhouses and associated folk materials have been rapidly disappearing throughout the country, the preservation of the Miyaji residence has become all the more significant as a tangible link to vanishing rural heritage.
Architectural Features and Highlights
The Former Miyaji Family Residence is a single-story structure measuring approximately 11.3 meters in width (桁行) and 7.6 meters in depth (梁間). The roof is of the irimoya-zukuri (hipped-gable) style with a tsumairi (gable-entry) orientation, thatched with kaya (miscanthus grass) and featuring additional eaves (庇) on both the south and north sides, topped with tochi (horse chestnut bark) shingles.
The interior is divided into three distinct spaces arranged from front to back. The first room encountered upon entering is the "niwa" (庭), an earthen-floored work area that served as the kitchen and utility space. Here, visitors can see a traditional cooking hearth (kamado), a mortar for pounding rice, bathing facilities, and various farming implements that evoke the rhythms of daily agricultural life.
The central room is the "niuji" (にうじ), functioning as the main living area — the equivalent of a modern living room. In a distinctive feature of this regional building tradition, the floor of the niuji was not raised on a timber frame but consisted of a layer of rice husks (momigara) spread approximately 15 centimeters thick over the ground, covered with straw mats (mushiro). This earthen-floor living arrangement, known as "dozairi" (土座), is an archaic feature that was once common in rural dwellings of this region but has since largely vanished.
The innermost section is elevated and finished with tatami mats, divided into two rooms: the "nema" (寝間, sleeping quarters) and the "zashiki" (座敷, a formal reception room). The transition from the earth-floored living area to the raised tatami rooms reflects a social and spatial hierarchy within even this modest dwelling. Throughout the house, the number of openings — doors and windows — is notably few, creating a characteristically dark interior that helped retain heat during the cold winters of the Kohoku region.
The Legacy of Kunitomo: Japan's Gun-Making Village
Although the Miyaji family were farmers rather than gunsmiths, understanding the history of their home village of Kunitomo adds a fascinating layer of context to this heritage site. Kunitomo was one of Japan's most important firearms production centers from the mid-16th century through the end of the Edo period, rivaling the city of Sakai in Osaka as a supplier of matchlock guns (hinawajū).
Following the introduction of firearms to Japan via Portuguese traders at Tanegashima in 1543, Kunitomo's blacksmiths — already skilled in metalworking — were among the first in the country to successfully replicate the new technology. At its peak, the village boasted over 70 smithies and more than 500 craftsmen. The warlords Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu all controlled Kunitomo at various times, recognizing the strategic importance of its weapons production. Even after the peaceful Edo period reduced demand for firearms, the village's metalworking traditions lived on in crafts such as Buddhist altar fittings and festival float decorations.
Today, visitors interested in this history can explore the Kunitomo Teppō Museum (国友鉄砲ミュージアム) in Nagahama, approximately 30 kilometers north of the Miyaji residence's current location.
Visitor Information
The Former Miyaji Family Residence is located within the Ōmi Fudoki no Oka (近江風土記の丘) historical park, adjacent to the Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum. The exterior of the building can be viewed freely at any time, while interior viewing is generally available during the museum's opening hours. Admission to view the relocated buildings in the park grounds is free of charge, though the museum itself requires a separate admission fee.
Alongside the Miyaji residence, the park also features two other historically significant relocated structures: the Former Yanagihara School Building (旧柳原学校校舎), a Meiji-era pseudo-Western schoolhouse dating from 1876 and designated as a Shiga Prefectural Cultural Property; and the Former Azuchi Police Station (旧安土巡査駐在所), an 1885 structure that is one of Japan's earliest surviving police boxes. A multi-purpose covered plaza is also located next to the Miyaji residence.
The nearest station is JR Azuchi Station on the JR Biwako Line, from which the museum grounds are approximately a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute bicycle ride. Rental bicycles are available at the station. Free parking is provided at the museum for those arriving by car, with access from the Ryūō Interchange or Yōkaichi Interchange on the Meishin Expressway (approximately 30 minutes by car).
Surrounding Attractions
A visit to the Former Miyaji Family Residence can easily be combined with exploration of the rich historical sites concentrated in the Azuchi area. The Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum (滋賀県立安土城考古博物館), reopened after renovation in March 2025, features immersive CG recreations of Azuchi Castle and extensive exhibits on Oda Nobunaga and Sengoku-period Ōmi Province. Adjacent to the museum, the Azuchi Castle Tower — Nobunaga no Yakata (安土城天主 信長の館) displays a full-scale reconstruction of the upper floors of Azuchi Castle, originally built for the 1992 Seville Expo.
The ruins of Azuchi Castle (安土城跡), a designated Special Historic Site, are located nearby on Mount Azuchi. The climb to the castle summit takes approximately one hour round trip and rewards visitors with panoramic views of Lake Biwa's western shores and the surrounding countryside. Along the mountain path, visitors will encounter the Important Cultural Properties of Sōken-ji temple: a three-story pagoda built in 1454 and a Niō gate from the Muromachi period.
For those with more time, the historic town of Ōmihachiman — renowned for its picturesque Hachiman-bori canal, traditional merchant houses, and the wildly popular La Collina pastry campus — lies just a few minutes by train from Azuchi Station. The combination of Edo-period rural architecture, Sengoku castle ruins, and merchant-town charm makes this corner of Shiga Prefecture one of the most rewarding day-trip destinations in the Kansai region.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Shiga
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Miyaji Family Residence (formerly Located in Kunitomo
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Q&A
- When was the Former Miyaji Family Residence built, and how do we know?
- The residence was built in 1754 (Hōreki 4), during the mid-Edo period. The exact date was confirmed by an ink inscription (墨書札) discovered on a structural timber during dismantling and repair work. This kind of documentary evidence is relatively rare in vernacular farmhouses and adds significantly to the building's historical value.
- Why was the house relocated from Kunitomo to its current site in Azuchi?
- The residence was relocated in 1969 to the Ōmi Fudoki no Oka historical park as part of Shiga Prefecture's efforts to preserve and display representative examples of the region's cultural heritage. The park was established as one of Japan's earliest "Fudoki no Oka" historical parks under a national initiative to safeguard local historic sites and traditional structures that were at risk of being lost.
- What is the "Yogo-gata" architectural style?
- The Yogo-gata (余呉型) is a regional subtype of farmhouse architecture found in the Kohoku (northern Lake Biwa) area of Shiga Prefecture. It belongs to the broader Ika-zukuri tradition and is characterized by a gable-entry (tsumairi) layout with an irimoya (hipped-gable) roof. The Miyaji residence is considered a typical example of this style, making it an important reference for understanding local building traditions.
- Is the interior of the house open to visitors?
- The interior can generally be viewed during the opening hours of the adjacent Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Mondays). While visitors can look inside the house, entry into the interior itself may be restricted to preserve the structure. The exterior and surrounding park grounds can be accessed freely at any time.
- What is the connection between Kunitomo village and firearms production?
- Kunitomo was one of Japan's premier gun-manufacturing centers from the 1540s through the end of the Edo period. Following the arrival of firearms in Japan in 1543, the village's blacksmiths were commissioned to produce replicas and became a major supplier to warlords including Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. At its height, Kunitomo had over 70 smithies and 500 craftsmen. Although the Miyaji family were farmers rather than gunsmiths, their home village's fame adds rich historical context to this heritage site.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Miyaji Family Residence (旧宮地家住宅, Kyū Miyaji-ke Jūtaku) |
|---|---|
| Original Location | Kunitomo-chō, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Current Location | 6839 Yamada, Shimotoyoura, Azuchi-chō, Ōmihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture (within Ōmi Fudoki no Oka / Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaeological Museum grounds) |
| Year Built | 1754 (Hōreki 4, Edo period) |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property of Japan (designated April 25, 1968) |
| Category | Residential architecture / Pre-modern vernacular dwelling (民家) |
| Structure | Width 11.3m × Depth 7.6m, irimoya-zukuri (hipped-gable), tsumairi (gable-entry), thatched roof (kayabuki), eaves on south and north sides with tochi-buki (horse chestnut bark) shingles |
| Owner | Shiga Prefecture |
| Access | Approximately 25 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by bicycle from JR Azuchi Station (JR Biwako Line). Free parking available. |
| Adjacent Museum Hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM); closed Mondays (or following day if Monday is a holiday), December 28 – January 4 |
| Museum Admission | Adults ¥600 (permanent exhibition), Students ¥360; free for elementary, junior high, and high school students |
References
- 文化遺産オンライン — 旧宮地家住宅（旧所在 滋賀県長浜市国友町）
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/122487
- 国指定文化財等データベース — 旧宮地家住宅
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/1478
- Japan Geographic — 滋賀県近江八幡市 旧宮地家住宅
- https://japan-geographic.tv/shiga/azuchi-miyajike.html
- シガブンシンブン 新近江名所図会 第183回 — 博物館を取り巻く文化財
- https://www.shiga-bunkazai.jp/shigabun-shinbun/best-place-in-shiga/新近江名所圖会 第183回/
- 滋賀県立安土城考古博物館 公式サイト
- https://azuchi-museum.or.jp/
- Wikipedia — 国友
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/国友
- 文化遺産見学案内所 — 滋賀県 国宝・国指定重要文化財（建造物）
- https://bunkaisan.exblog.jp/29629269/
Last verified: 2026.04.17