Kumagai Residence

Kumagai Residence 熊谷家住宅

Jake Davies

Entrance to the Kumagai Residence in Omori, Iwami Ginzan, Shimane Prefecture
The "office" of the Kumagai merchant family

The Kumagai family were a very powerful and wealthy merchant family in the area around Iwami Ginzan silver mine, where enormous amounts of silver were mined making it the biggest silver mine in Japanese history.

The Kumagai Residence in Omori was opened to the public in 2006 and is the biggest and best preserved example of an Edo Period wealthy merchant residence in the area. It is an Important Cultural Property, part of an Historic Preservation Area, and within the Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Site.

The Kumagai claim to have been retainers of the Mori clan under the powerful warlord who controlled much of west Japan.

The Mori gained control of the mine in the mid-16th century. Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 the ruling Tokugawa shoguns took control of all mines in Japan, including Iwami Ginzan.

Records show that the family occupied the current site in 1729. As well as operating as merchants the family also produced sake and worked for the Magistrates Office, the highest ranked agents of the Shogunate in the mine area. As the most powerful family in the district the Kumagai hosted important visitors from the Shogunate.

Several rooms of the Kumagai Residence have exhibitions relating to sake production, one of the family's businesses
At the rear of the main residence a series of tatami rooms can be opened up to provide lavish banquets for visiting dignitaries

Exhibits

In 1800 most of Omori was destroyed by the "Great Fire" and so the oldest parts of the current Kumagai House date back to 1801. Over the decades the family compound expanded to its current size which has the main residence and five more storehouses and outbuildings behind the high white plastered walls. From 2001 to 2005 the property underwent major restoration and refurbishment with some parts being returned to an earlier form. More than 30 rooms are open to the public.

After entering the small doorway you pass in to the cavernous entrance space where you pay your entry fee then take off your shoes to enter the tatami-floored interior.

On the first floor are all the rooms where the family lived, with plenty of artifacts and materials from daily life on display. When renovation began in 2001 the entire contents of the property was removed to the local school gym where teams of locals sifted through and cataloged everything as well as repairing items that needed it.

To the rear a series of rooms would have been used for entertaining visiting dignitaries, sometimes opening up the partitions to create a banquet space. As you would expect for such a large residence the kitchen area is big and well stocked. When visiting you may see a group of schoolchildren learning how rice was cooked in the old days, a popular "experience" offered to groups.

The second floor was believed to have been used as lodgings, and on display here you will see a bridal trousseau of a woman who married into the family in the early 20th century. As you wander through the maze of connecting rooms and buildings there are many more displays: several rooms focus on one of the family businesses, sake brewing, other rooms display kimonos, bedding, examples of meals served, etc. Compared to many similar houses I have visited, there are a huge amount of interesting displays and it is well worth the price of entry. Definitely include it in your visit to Iwami Ginzan.

A display of traditional clothing at the Kumagai House, wealthy merchants of the Edo Period

The large kitchen area at the Kumagai Residence in Omori, Iwami Ginzan, Shimane Prefecture

Access

The Kumagai Residence is located at the northern end of the village, just a few minutes from the Former Magistrates Office (now a museum) and the small bus station.

Regular buses to Omori take 25 minutes from Odashi Station on the JR Sanin Line.

63 Ha Omoricho, Oda-shi, Shimane 694-0305
Tel: 0854 89 9003

Open 9.30 am to 5 pm. Closed the last Tuesday of the month and over the New Year.

Entry 500 yen for adults, 100 yen for kids.

At the rear of the main residence a series of rooms can be opened up to provide lavish banquets for visiting dignitaries

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