A Thatched Farmhouse of 1881 in the Hills
The Okkin Mukugawa Community Hall (Former Kurita Family Residence Main House) (おっきん椋川交流館（旧栗田家住宅主屋）) is a thatched farmhouse built in 1881 in the mountain hamlet of Mukugawa, Imazu-cho, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on July 25, 2011 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a single-storey timber building with a thatched roof and a building area of 179 square metres, renovated in 2009; registration number 25-0298, owned by Takashima City.
From Farmhouse to Community Hall
According to the Biwako Takashima Tourism Association, the farmhouse was renovated as a base for exchange between the village and city dwellers. Okkin is a local word meaning roughly "thank you".
The association reports that general use of the hall ended in March 2024.
Why It Was Registered
The hall was registered as a structure contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as a thatched farmhouse that preserves the look of a mountain village.
What to Look For
The farmhouse faces south with the mountain behind it. It is 16 metres by 10 metres under a thatched hip-and-gable roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
An earth-floored entrance lies at the centre, with a living room of about 12 mats and a sunken hearth behind it. Three rooms line the east side, and the formal room at the back to the north has an alcove, side shelves and a built-in writing bay (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
According to the Biwako Takashima Tourism Association, general use of the hall ended in March 2024, and no current opening has been announced. The thatched exterior can be seen from the village road; please respect the life of the community.
The address is 286 Mukugawa, Imazu-cho, Takashima City.
Q&A
- When was the hall built?
- In 1881 according to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, with renovation in 2009.
- What does okkin mean?
- It is a local word meaning roughly "thank you" (Biwako Takashima Tourism Association).
- What are the building's features?
- A 16-by-10-metre thatched hip-and-gable farmhouse with a hearth room and a formal room with an alcove and writing bay (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I use the hall?
- General use ended in March 2024 (Biwako Takashima Tourism Association).
- When was the hall registered?
- On July 25, 2011.
Basic Information
| Name | Okkin Mukugawa Community Hall (Former Kurita Family Residence Main House) (おっきん椋川交流館（旧栗田家住宅主屋）) |
|---|---|
| Location | 286 Ojo, Mukugawa, Imazu-cho, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2011/07/25 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber building, thatched roof, building area 179 square metres |
| Owner | Takashima City |
| Public Access | General use ended March 2024 (no opening announced) |
References
- Okkin Mukugawa Community Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008715
- Okkin Mukugawa Community Hall (Biwako Takashima Tourism Guide, Japanese)
- https://takashima-kanko.jp/spot/2018/06/post_120.html
Last verified: 2026.10.14