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Visit the Nijo-jinya (Ogawa-ke Residence) (Kyoto)

Nijo-jinya (Ogawa-ke Residence) is located just a stone's throw from Nijo-jo Castle. It faces the street, but it is so inconspicuous that you can easily walk past it.The Ogawa-ke family were originally samurai, but in the Edo period they became merchants and ran a general store called Yorozuya, dealing in rice, money exchange and medicine.

2024.07.21

Architecture[Area] Kyoto

Visit the mansion of Fujii Hikoshiro in Gokasyo (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

If you walk a little from the Gokasyo Kondo area, you will come to the Miyasho district, where you will find the grand residence of Fujii Hikoshiro.Hikoshiro was one of the Omi merchants from Gokasyo who achieved success with hand-knitted wool and artificial twisted yarn.

2024.05.11

Architecture[Area] Shiga

Visit the house of the author Tonomura Shigeru, who is descended from the Omi Merchants (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

The Tonomura Shigeru Residence is the birthplace and childhood home of Tonomura Shigeru.The Japanese-style architecture, with its beautiful garden visible from every room, is a sight to behold.

2024.05.11

Architecture[Area] Shiga

Visit the Nakae Jungoro Residence, which is part of the Minakai Department Store family (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

The Minakai Department Store chain was extremely prosperous in the Korean Peninsula and mainland China before the war.The four Nakae brothers established the Minakai Shoten store, which later developed into the large department store, Minakai Department Store.This is the main residence of the youngest of the four brothers, Nakae Jungoro, who was one of the Omi Merchants.

2024.05.11

Architecture[Area] Shiga

Walking in Gokasho of Omi Merchants (Higashi-omi/Shiga)

A walk in the Gokasho Kondo district of Higashiomi, one of the birthplaces of the Omi merchants.Omi merchants of the time would peddle their goods from this area.Their business area was all over the country.The vitality of these merchants was amazing, but even before that, their stamina to travel to distant places was also amazing.

2024.05.11

Townscape[Area] Shiga

Visit Yoshiki-en Garden, which has a moss garden (Nara)

If you walk west from the South Big Gate of Todai-ji Temple for about 10 minutes, you will reach Yoshiki-en Garden.From the detached tea house, you can look out over the moss garden, which has a lot of depth.Personally, I think this is the best view of Yoshiki-en Garden.

2024.04.28

Garden[Area] Nara

Visiting the former residence of the literary giant Shiga Naoya (Nara)

A wonderful sukiya-style house.That is the former residence of Shiga Naoya.There is a corridor that surrounds the central courtyard.The rooms and windows all face the central courtyard or the outer garden.From the second floor guest room, you can see Mt. Wakakusa and from the first floor dining room, you can see both the central courtyard and the outer garden.

2024.04.28

Architecture[Area] Nara

Visit the garden of the former Daijo-in Temple, which has a vast garden (Nara)

There is a beautiful garden to the south of the Nara Hotel.There is a pond and greenery in the vast grounds.There is a small island floating in the pond and a red bridge.This is the garden of the former Daijo-in Temple.

2024.04.28

Garden[Area] Nara

Visit Koetsu-ji Temple in Takagamine (Kyoto)

Koetsu-ji Temple has a striking entrance leading up to the main gate.The temple grounds, which are thickly wooded, are dotted with tea ceremony rooms. It is located next to Mt. Takagamine and Mt. Washigamine, and in the distance you can see the 36 peaks of the Higashiyama Mountains.

2024.04.20

Garden[Area] Kyoto

Visit Genko-an Temple, where hand and footprints with bloodstains remain on the ceiling (Kyoto)

Go up the slope from the Senbon Kitaoji intersection towards Mt.Takagamine.There are buses on the route, but I walked all the way up, looking at Mt. Hiei on my right.At the end of the road, I found my destination, Genko-an Temple.The round window in the main hall is the “window of enlightenment”.The square window is the “window of confusion”.You can enjoy the view of the garden, framed by the round and square windows, from the main hall.

2024.04.20

Architecture[Area] Kyoto

Visit the former residence of Iwakura Tomomi, the mastermind behind the end of the Edo period (Kyoto)

As the 260-year Edo period came to an end, Kyoto entered a period of upheaval. At that time, this village far from the city of Kyoto became the stage for history.Iwakura Tomomi, a member of the Imperial Court, was plotting to move history forward in this area. Many samurai who sympathized with him and opposed the ruling powers of the time visited this private residence.

2024.04.13

Architecture[Area] Kyoto