Kakunodate Samurai Residences 角館武家屋敷

Description

Often referred to as “Little Kyoto” for its collection of traditional architecture, the picturesque castle town of Kakunodate was established approximately 400 years ago. Today, the town is known for the numerous former samurai residences lining a 700-meter stretch of road. The properties remain well-preserved, offering visitors a glimpse of what life was like during the Edo period (1603－1867). The town of Kakunodate was founded in the early 17th century by Ashina Yoshikatsu, younger brother of the ruler of the Akita Domain. The town was perfectly situated for defending against potential invasions as it was surrounded by mountains on three sides and rivers to the west and south. Samurai families built their estates on the north side of town in an area called uchi-machi, or “inner city,” closer to where the castle stood, and merchants inhabited the south side, called to-machi, meaning “outer city.” The two areas were separated by a plaza called hiyoke, which served as a buffer to prevent fires from spreading. The samurai residences in uchi-machi are surrounded by austere black fences made from local Akita cedar. Within the residence grounds, the main houses, storehouses, gates, and other buildings in common use at the time remain virtually intact. Cedars and giant fir trees were planted on the estates to protect against fire and the heavy snowfall of Akita winters. Visitors can still see these magnificent trees, standing tall for hundreds of years. Six samurai estates are open to the public. The Ishiguro residence, still inhabited by direct descendants of the family, is the oldest and held the highest social standing. The Aoyanagi residence is somewhat larger and equally impressive. The grounds of the Iwahashi residence, Odano residence, Kawarada residence, and Matsumoto residence can all be entered at no charge. Kakunodate is also famous for its thousands of stunning cherry trees. Beginning in the 18th century, lower class samurai used the bark to make a variety of furniture and trinkets to generate extra income. These traditional crafts can be viewed at the Kakunodate Kabazaiku Denshokan Museum, which also offers demonstrations.