The Former Tobe Family Residence and the Minakami Town Mizukami History and Folklore Museum, located in Yubara, Minakami Town, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture, offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history, architecture, and traditional way of life.
The former residence is a well-preserved example of an Edo-period farmhouse, while the museum houses historical materials ranging from the Jomon period to the modern era. Together, the two facilities provide visitors with an opportunity to discover how people in Minakami lived and adapted to their natural surroundings over the centuries.
The site is particularly appealing to visitors interested in traditional Japanese architecture, history, and local culture, as well as travelers who want to gain a deeper understanding of rural life in Japan.
The Former Tobe Family Residence is a traditional farmhouse believed to have been built in the early 18th century. It is considered one of the representative examples of traditional farmhouses preserved in northern Gunma. The building was designated a Nationally Important Cultural Property on June 17, 1970.
The house originally stood in Tatekawa, Kawaba Village, in Tone District. To preserve the historic building, the former Minakami Town purchased it and had it carefully dismantled, relocated, and reconstructed at its present location between 1973 and 1974.
The house is a single-story structure with a hipped, thatched roof. Its low eaves and relatively few openings are characteristic of traditional architecture adapted to the harsh climate of northern Gunma, an area that receives heavy snowfall in winter. The building illustrates how closely traditional farming lifestyles were connected to the surrounding natural environment.
Another distinctive feature is the use of the space beneath the eaves, where plants were traditionally grown. Details such as these provide valuable clues about the everyday practices of rural households during the Edo period.
The Tobe family belonged to a long-established farming household in Kawaba Village. The residence is said to have survived the major fire that occurred in the area in 1753, making it an especially valuable example of historic rural architecture.
Although the house is relatively modest in size, it was constructed to a high standard and retains many features that are important for understanding the development of traditional Japanese farmhouse architecture during the Edo period.
The building measures approximately 18.1 meters in length and 7.2 meters in width, with a total floor area of about 132 square meters. Its hipped thatched roof is topped with a traditional shibamune, or grass-covered ridge, also known as a kuregushi, a feature characteristic of older Japanese farmhouses.
The interior layout of the Former Tobe Family Residence offers a detailed look at the daily life of a farming household in the Edo period. Nearly half of the eastern side of the building consists of an earthen-floored area known as the Doji. This space was used primarily as a work area for agricultural and household tasks.
At the eastern end of the earthen floor are the Furoba, or bath area, and the Umaya, or horse stable. Keeping livestock within the house was a common feature of traditional homes in mountainous regions, where animals played an important role in agricultural life.
The central living area on the raised wooden floor is called the Chanoma. It served as the main gathering place for the family. A traditional irori hearth was located in the center of the room and was used for cooking, eating, heating the house, and gathering with family members.
Smoke from the hearth passed upward through the interior of the house before escaping through the thatched roof. This also helped protect the thatch from insects and decay, demonstrating how traditional Japanese homes made practical use of natural materials.
Other rooms included spaces known as the Nando and Nedoko, which were used for storage and sleeping. The Nedoko was particularly enclosed, with three sides surrounded by earthen walls, creating a relatively private and protected sleeping space.
On the western side of the house was the Okino-dee, which was used as a guest room or a room for retired family members. Its entrance was connected to an earthen-floored area called the Tobo.
This sophisticated arrangement of rooms provides an important example of the development of traditional farmhouse architecture during the later Edo period and illustrates how different areas of the home were carefully adapted to family life and agricultural work.
Next to the Former Tobe Family Residence is the Minakami Town Mizukami History and Folklore Museum, which introduces the history and traditional culture of the local area. Located along National Route 291, the museum presents a wide range of materials covering the history of the region from the Jomon period to modern times.
The museum’s collection includes archaeological artifacts from the Jomon period excavated around the former Minakami Town area, as well as farming tools, household implements, ceremonial objects, and other items used from the Edo period through the Showa period. Approximately 2,000 historical materials are collected and displayed.
These exhibits offer insight into how the people of Minakami, a mountainous region, lived alongside nature and developed practical knowledge and traditions suited to their environment.
The Former Tobe Family Residence has been relocated and preserved in the museum’s grounds as a Nationally Important Cultural Property. Visiting the farmhouse together with the museum allows visitors to develop a more complete understanding of the region’s history and traditional lifestyle.
Seeing the actual structure of an Edo-period farmhouse makes it easier to imagine how people lived, worked, cooked, raised livestock, and interacted with their families in the past. The combination of historic architecture and museum exhibits is one of the site’s greatest attractions.
Minakami is also well known for its hot springs and beautiful natural scenery, with numerous onsen resorts, valleys, mountains, and other attractions in the surrounding area. The Former Tobe Family Residence and museum therefore make an interesting stop for travelers who wish to combine cultural exploration with nature and hot spring sightseeing.
The Former Tobe Family Residence and Minakami Town Mizukami History and Folklore Museum play an important role in preserving and sharing the history and culture of the Minakami region for future generations.
The historic farmhouse provides a tangible experience of everyday life during the Edo period, while the museum presents a broader historical perspective through its collection of archaeological artifacts, farming tools, household items, and traditional objects.
When visiting Minakami, consider stopping at this cultural heritage site to explore the architecture and exhibits and gain a deeper appreciation of the knowledge, ingenuity, and daily lives of the people who once lived in this mountainous part of Gunma.