Jotokigunka Residence

Overview

The Jotokigunka Residence is a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan, a wealthy farmer's house built in the early Edo period. Known as the largest farmhouse in Ishikawa Prefecture, it's a precious historical site offering a glimpse into the lives of wealthy farmers. The current residence is said to have been built during the branch family separation in 1670 (Kanbun 10). However, judging from its structure and techniques, it seems to have been built not long after the branch family separation. It's a large structure, with a span of 13 ken (about 23.4 meters) and a depth of 8 ken (about 14.4 meters), facing south. It features a gable roof, a hipped-gable roof style, and a flat entrance. The large thatched roof has a relatively gentle slope and is surrounded by tiled eaves on all four sides. The layout is typical of a large Oku Noto farmhouse. The residential section features an inner parlor, a middle parlor, and an outer parlor facing the garden. The front entrance area is called the 'Oen-zashiki' (veranda-style parlor) and has a veranda. The storeroom retains traces of a 'cho-dai-kou' (a type of shelving). The earthen floor is exceptionally wide, occupying about half the width of the main house. The three independent pillars and the multiple layers of massive beams evoke the lifestyle of wealthy farmers who employed numerous servants to manage their large-scale operations. This is a valuable place to learn about the lifestyle of wealthy farmers and the architectural techniques of that era. The beautiful harmony with the surrounding landscape allows you to feel both history and nature.