The Former Ubukata Family Residence is a historic traditional house located within Numata Park in Nishikurauchi, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture. Believed to have been built around the end of the 17th century, it is considered one of the oldest surviving machiya merchant houses in eastern Japan.
The building is highly valued for its historical and architectural significance and was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on June 17, 1970.
The Former Ubukata Family Residence is a traditional machiya featuring a gable-end entrance and wooden shingle roofing. There are no surviving documents, such as a ridgepole inscription, that directly identify its construction date. However, its architectural style and structural techniques indicate that it was probably built around the end of the 17th century.
The building has a gable-roofed structure with a floor area of approximately 240 square meters. It is about 12 meters wide and 18.9 meters deep, making it a substantial merchant’s residence for its time.
The main structural posts were made using Japanese cypress and various hardwoods, with timbers considerably thicker than those normally found in ordinary residences. Some of the original structural members still show marks left by traditional chona adze finishing, providing valuable evidence of construction techniques used in the early Edo period.
The floor plan follows a traditional “tori-niwa” design commonly found in Japanese machiya houses. An entrance is positioned along one side of the building, leading to a long earthen-floored passage that extends toward a garden at the rear.
This arrangement allowed the building to function simultaneously as a place of business and a family residence. Walking through the house offers visitors a vivid impression of how merchants lived and worked during the Edo period.
The openings facing the street were fitted with traditional shitomido shutters. These could be opened during business hours and securely closed after the shop finished for the day.
The roof was changed to metal sheeting during the Taisho period. When the residence was relocated, however, it was restored to a traditional wooden shingle roof, with boards held down by stones, recreating the appearance of the original building.
The Ubukata family was a long-established local family that is traditionally said to have operated as medicine and medicinal herb merchants since the Sanada clan took control of Numata Castle. The family reportedly served as official suppliers to the Numata Domain.
The residence originally stood on a corner along what is now National Route 120 in Kaminomachi, Numata. The family shop was known by the name “Kadofuji.”
Members of the Ubukata family also became involved in local government and public affairs. One notable family member, Ubukata Makoto, served as mayor of Numata and later as a member of Japan’s National Public Safety Commission.
The family’s long involvement in the political and cultural life of the region makes the residence more than simply an old merchant house. It is an important part of Numata’s local history.
After the residence was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1970, Numata City acquired the building for preservation. In 1973, it was carefully relocated to its present site within Numata Park.
The relocation and restoration work was carried out under the guidance of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, with the aim of restoring the building as closely as possible to its original appearance.
Today, the residence provides a rare opportunity to see an early Edo-period machiya in a carefully preserved and restored condition.
Next to the Former Ubukata Family Residence is the Ubukata Memorial Museum. The museum displays collections assembled during his lifetime by Ubukata Makoto, including ukiyo-e prints, calligraphy, paintings, hanging scrolls, framed works, and archaeological artifacts.
Visiting the museum together with the historic residence provides a broader understanding of the region’s cultural history from the early modern period through the modern era.
The combination of the historic architecture and cultural collections creates an engaging place to learn about Numata’s local history.
The Former Ubukata Family Residence stands within Numata Park, a historic park developed on the former site of Numata Castle. The park has also been selected as one of the 100 Historic Parks of Japan.
Other highlights within the park include a reconstructed bell tower, surviving stone walls, and approximately 210 cherry trees that bloom beautifully in spring.
Because the park is situated on a river terrace, it also offers impressive views of the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Tanigawa and Mt. Hotaka.
The opportunity to combine historical sightseeing with seasonal scenery is one of the major attractions of visiting the residence.
Approximately 8 minutes from the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, about 3.7 km.
From JR Numata Station, take a bus for approximately 3 minutes and get off at Terrace Numata / City Hall-mae. The residence is about a 10-minute walk from the bus stop.
The residence is approximately a 15-minute walk from JR Numata Station.
The Former Ubukata Family Residence is much more than an old traditional house. Its architecture preserves the history of early Edo-period merchant culture, traditional commerce, and everyday life in Numata.
The thick wooden posts, spacious earthen-floored passage, traditional shutters, and carefully restored roof allow visitors to imagine the merchants, customers, and townspeople who once passed through this historic building.
When combined with a visit to Numata Castle Ruins and the other attractions surrounding Numata Park, the residence offers an excellent way to explore the city’s history and cultural heritage.
For travelers interested in traditional Japanese architecture and local history, the Former Ubukata Family Residence provides a peaceful and fascinating glimpse into the world of an Edo-period merchant town.