Monzai Family Residence: A 17th-Century Thatched House in Yunooku
The Monzai Family Residence (Shimobe Town, Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi Prefecture) (門西家住宅, Monzai-ke Jutaku) is a late 17th-century farmhouse of the mid-Edo period in Yunooku, Minobu Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, designated a national Important Cultural Property in 1964.
The words in brackets record the address at the time of designation; Shimobe Town is now part of Minobu Town, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs gives the location as 255 Yunooku, Minobu. The house measures 14.7 metres by 10.0 metres under a hip-and-gable (Irimoya-zukuri) roof of thatch.
According to the Shimobe Onsen tourism association, the Monzai family had lived here since the Muromachi period and in the Edo period oversaw the Yunooku gold mine.
Why It Was Designated
The Agency describes the Monzai Family Residence as representative of the old houses of the Fuji River valley (the Kawauchi district) in Yamanashi. It dates from the late 17th century, has a hiroma-type plan in which a large boarded room opens off the earth-floored area, and a hip-and-gable roof.
The Agency's note is brief, but its four points (a late 17th-century date, the Fuji River valley, a hiroma plan and a hip-and-gable roof) together present the house as a type specimen of the old farmhouses of this area.
The thatch was renewed between December 2009 and March 2010. The record of the contractor, Denshosha, notes that the work was supervised by the Japanese Association for Conservation of Architectural Monuments.
What to Look For
From outside, start with the roof: a small gable sits at the top of the great thatched roof, and thick layers of thatch sweep down on all four sides, dropping even lower over the veranda on the south.
The Monzai Family Residence stands in Yunooku, a hamlet on a steep slope in the upper Shimobe River valley, reached by stone-walled, stone-paved lanes. Notice how the house of a family that ran the gold mine sits within this hillside settlement.
Visiting the Monzai Family Residence
The house is reported to be still lived in and is not regularly open. If you hope to see inside, check first with the Minobu Town Board of Education on 0556-20-3017, and be considerate of the residents even when viewing from outside.
The Shimobe Onsen tourism association gives the distance from Shimobe-Onsen Station on the JR Minobu Line as about 5 kilometres, or about 10 minutes by car. Lanes in the hamlet are narrow and steep, so take care when driving and parking.
Q&A
- When was the Monzai Family Residence built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late 17th century, in the mid-Edo period. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1964.
- What are the features of the Monzai Family Residence?
- It is a thatched farmhouse with a hip-and-gable roof, 14.7 metres by 10.0 metres, with a hiroma-type plan. The Agency calls it representative of old houses in the Fuji River valley.
- Why does the name of the Monzai Family Residence mention Shimobe Town?
- The bracketed words record the address at designation. Shimobe Town is now part of Minobu Town, and the house is at 255 Yunooku, Minobu.
- Can I see inside the Monzai Family Residence?
- It is reported to be a private home and is not regularly open. Check with the Minobu Town Board of Education before visiting.
- How do I get to the Monzai Family Residence?
- According to the Shimobe Onsen tourism association, it is about 5 kilometres, or about 10 minutes by car, from Shimobe-Onsen Station on the JR Minobu Line.
Basic Information
| Name | Monzai Family Residence (Shimobe Town, Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi Prefecture) (門西家住宅) |
|---|---|
| Location | 255 Yunooku, Minobu Town, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1964/5/29 (Showa 39) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 14.7 metres by 10.0 metres, hip-and-gable roof, thatched |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Private home. Check with the Minobu Town Board of Education about seeing inside |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Monzai Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/887
- Cultural Heritage Online: Monzai Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/121897
- Shimobe Onsen Tourism Association: Monzai Family Residence
- https://shimobeonsen.jp/introduce/monzai/
- Denshosha: Thatch renewal of the Monzai Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://densho-sha.co.jp/110409_monzaike.html
- JAPAN 47 GO: Monzai Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://www.japan47go.travel/ja/detail/11e5c7ae-dea7-470c-9da6-c3b80907ea7e
Last verified: 2026.09.27