A Showa Reception Wing behind a Gobo Townhouse
The Ito Family Residence Annex (伊藤家住宅離れ) is a detached reception wing of the early Showa era (1926–1945) in Gobo, Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 26, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 108 square metres; registration number 30-0206.
Rooms East of the Main House
The Ito Family Residence Annex stands east of the main house on Higashimachi-dori and is joined to it by a covered passage (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Seen from the street, it lies behind the main house.
Inside are 2 eight-mat reception rooms and a small room of 4.5 mats. The principal room has a tokonoma alcove with an attached shoin desk-window and staggered shelves, and the timber is choice stock such as tsuga, Japanese hemlock (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education describes it as a shoin-style room with alcove, shelves and shoin, built in fine timber inside and out.
Why It Was Registered
The Ito Family Residence Annex was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape (Agency for Cultural Affairs), which calls it annex architecture of good quality. The Agency points to the way its two sides differ: the garden side is open, while on the rear, toward the neighbouring lot, the eaves and other parts are plastered over to stop fire spreading. The building shows how a reception wing was fitted into a tightly built town.
What to Look For
The thing to look for in the Ito Family Residence Annex is the formal fitting-out of the principal room: an alcove with its shoin window and staggered shelves beside it, and the grain of the hemlock posts and rails.
Outside, the point is the contrast between the two long sides. The garden side opens up with sliding screens; the side toward the neighbour is plastered right up under the eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Both can only be seen from inside the plot.
Visiting
The Ito Family Residence Annex is part of a private home, and no opening of the interior or garden has been announced. Because it stands behind the main house, expect little or no view of it from Higashimachi-dori. Do not enter the plot.
The street front of the main house and directions to the temple town are covered on the page for the Ito Family Residence (Gobo).
Q&A
- When was the Ito Family Residence Annex built?
- In the early Showa era (1926–1945) (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What rooms does the Ito Family Residence Annex have?
- 2 eight-mat reception rooms and a small 4.5-mat room. The principal room has an alcove with a shoin window and staggered shelves (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I visit the Ito Family Residence Annex?
- It is part of a private home and no interior opening has been announced. It stands behind the main house and is hard to see from the street.
- How is the Ito Family Residence Annex protected against fire?
- On the rear, toward the neighbouring lot, the eaves and other parts are plastered over to stop fire spreading (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Ito Family Residence Annex registered?
- On March 26, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Ito Family Residence Annex (伊藤家住宅離れ) |
|---|---|
| Location | 33 Gobo, Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture, and others |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2015/03/26 (Heisei 27) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, tiled roof, building area 108 m² |
| Owner | Private owner (per the Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education) |
| Public Access | Private home; no interior opening announced (exterior only) |
References
- Ito Family Residence Annex (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010493
- Ito Family Residence, Gobo (Cultural Properties of Wakayama, Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education, Japanese)
- https://wakayama-bunkazai.jp/bunkazai/bunkazai-spot-890/
- Ito Family Residence, Main House and Annex (Gobo City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.gobo.lg.jp/sosiki/kyoikuiin/kyoiku/tanto/bunnkazai/shinobunkazai/kenzoubutu/1440464751413.html
Last verified: 2026.11.11
