Former Nagaoka House
The Former Nagaoka House (旧長岡家住宅) near the historic town of Wakimachi in Tokushima is a preserved 18th farmhouse.
Former Nagaoka House, Mima, Tokushima 旧長岡家住宅
Jake Davies
On a hill not far from the historic town of Wakimachi in Mima city, Tokushima is an old farmhouse formerly inhabited by a family of farmers, the Nagaokas.
18th Century Nagaoka Family Farmhouse, Tokushima Prefecture
Entrance into the Nagaoka Farmhouse
Originally located on the lower slopes of the Sanuki Mountains to the north of its present location, the residence is a good example of the area's traditional farm architecture.
Originally constructed in 1735, in 1976 it was registered as an Important Cultural Property and a few years later dismantled and reassembled here.
The Former Nagaoka House is a simple and rudimentary building with just two rooms, the earthern floored kitchen and storage area, and one tatami-floored room.
The thick thatched roof is in what is known as the "yosemune-style" and comes down low over the eaves. Unusually the earthen walls have no cladding, due to the less than average rainfall in the area.
You can enter the kitchen area with its stove, sinks, and various household and agricultural items. Near the irori (sunken hearth ) in the tatami room, a loom and spinning wheel are set up. Interesting to see from the inside is the roof structure.
Right next door is a small shrine, and a hundred meters away is Saimyoji Temple, established in the 8th century and part of the Shikoku Fudo Myo Pilgrimage, and while neither is particularly noteworthy, they are good examples of regular shrines and temples that are not tourist sites.
The kitchen area of the Nagaoka Farmhouse, near Wakimachi, Tokushima Prefecture
The relatively simple roof structure is clearly visible from inside
Access
Former Nagaoka House
34 Nishiueno, Oaza Inoshiri, Wakimachi, Mima-shi, Tokushima 779-3603
Tel: 0883 53 8333
The Former Nagaoka House is located about 4km from Anabuki Station on the JR Tokushima Line or about 1km east of Wakimachi Udatsu Townscape, the area's main tourist attraction.
Anabuki Station is 44 minutes by Limited Express from Tokushima Station (1,370 yen) or an hour or 70 minutes by local train (850 yen). The Japan Rail Pass is valid on JR Lines.
Ananbuki Station is also convenient for the Wakimachi Odeon-za, a preserved 1930's theater.
A loom and spinning wheel besides the hearth
Saimyoji, an 8th century temple near to the Nagaoka Farmhouse
