An Indigo Merchant's House Moved to Awanosato
The Former Oiso Family House (旧大磯家住宅) is the house of an indigo merchant family of the Tenpo era (1830 to 1843) in Hiroshima, Matsushige Town, Itano District, Tokushima Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 23, 1999 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof, covering 186 square metres; registration number 36-0029.
The House of an Indigo Family
The Oiso family is known for having prospered by making and trading indigo (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The house has been moved to Awanosato and preserved there, where it is used as a crafts hall.
A plastered core under a gabled tiled roof is wrapped on all four sides by tiled pent roofs. The frame of heavy posts and beams is its distinctive feature (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it as a building that would not be easy to reproduce, an indigo merchant's house with a frame of heavy posts and beams.
What to Look For
Look for the plastered core and the heavy posts and beams (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
At registration the Agency noted that it was used as a crafts hall at Awanosato. No official information on current opening was found.
Q&A
- When was the house built?
- In the Tenpo era, 1830 to 1843 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What did the Oiso family do?
- They made and traded indigo.
- Where is it now?
- It has been moved to Awanosato.
- How is Matsushige Hiroshima read?
- Ma-tsu-shi-ge Hi-ro-shi-ma, per the Japan Post postcode data.
- When was the Former Oiso Family House registered?
- On August 23, 1999 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Former Oiso Family House (旧大磯家住宅) |
|---|---|
| Location | 29-1 Hiroshima, Matsushige Town, Itano District, Tokushima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1999/08/23 (Heisei 11) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, tiled roof, 186 m² |
| Owner | Tokiwa Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Opening not confirmed |
References
- Former Oiso Family House (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00001307
Last verified: 2026.10.19