Tomizawa Family Residence is a historic traditional farmhouse located in Daido, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. Built around the end of the 18th century, this large residence is a valuable cultural property that preserves the architecture of Edo-period farmhouses and the history of traditional sericulture.
The house was formerly the residence of the Tomizawa family, whose heads served as village headmen for generations in the Daido area. The family played an important role in the region’s political and economic life. Today, the residence is open to visitors and provides an opportunity to discover how people lived and worked in rural Japan during the Edo period.
The Daido district where the Tomizawa Family Residence stands was developed as a new agricultural settlement during the Edo period. Historical documents indicate that the ancestors of the Tomizawa family descended from people who helped develop the area during the Tenshō era.
At the time, Daido Pass was an important transportation route connecting the Echigo region with Joshu, the historical name for the area now known as Gunma. Taking advantage of this strategic location, the Tomizawa family prospered through the transportation and trading of goods such as rice, salt, timber, charcoal, and silkworm cocoons.
The family also engaged in financial services and eventually became one of the prominent households in the area. The heads of the family traditionally used the name Sanshiro and served as village headmen for generations.
The Tomizawa Family Residence is also particularly important as a farmhouse associated with traditional sericulture. The building is believed to have been constructed during the late Edo period, and the second floor contained dedicated spaces for raising silkworms.
It is regarded as one of the older surviving examples of a large Japanese farmhouse designed for sericulture. At the time, sericulture was an important part of the rural economy, and much of the work was carried out by women.
Women in the Tomizawa household played a central role in raising silkworms and producing cocoons, contributing significantly to the prosperity of the family and the local economy.
One of the most striking features of the residence is its distinctive Mae-Kabuto-zukuri roof design. The front section of the thatched roof rises upward in a shape resembling a traditional kabuto helmet.
This design was developed to allow more light and ventilation into the second-floor silkworm rooms. Good airflow and suitable light were important for raising silkworms, making the unusual roof structure a practical adaptation to sericulture.
The residence has a hip-and-gable thatched roof and is approximately 24 meters wide and 13 meters deep. Its impressive scale and distinctive appearance make it a representative example of large sericulture farmhouses in the region.
The Tomizawa Family Residence is a large two-story wooden structure with a total floor area of approximately 480 square meters. Its interior includes a spacious earthen-floored area and rooms with traditional hearths, preserving many aspects of an Edo-period farmhouse lifestyle.
An extensive earthen-floored area occupies the eastern side of the building. A horse stable was also once located here, reflecting the important role of horses in traditional agricultural households.
The western side contains the main living spaces, including rooms known as the Zashiki, Omote-no-Dee, Naka-no-Dee, and Jōdan. Among these, the Jōdan was a particularly formal room equipped with a tokonoma alcove, staggered shelves, and a built-in writing alcove. It served as an important space for receiving guests.
An irori hearth was located in the center of the main living area. It served as a place where family members gathered for meals, warmth, and conversation.
The smoke from the hearth rose into the roof space and is believed to have helped protect the thatched roof by reducing insects and moisture. This illustrates how traditional Japanese houses made practical use of the natural properties of smoke and thatch.
The Tomizawa Family Residence was designated a Nationally Important Cultural Property in 1970. Between 1976 and 1977, the building underwent partial dismantling and restoration work to preserve its historic structure.
It was later donated to Nakanojo Town by Kiyoshi Tomizawa, the 25th head of the family, and is now preserved as an important cultural property.
Admission to the residence is free, allowing visitors to explore the historic farmhouse and learn about Edo-period rural architecture and sericulture culture. Depending on preservation conditions, access to the second floor may be restricted.
Surrounded by peaceful rural scenery, the residence offers a quiet setting in which visitors can experience a sense of history while learning about traditional life in Gunma.
The Tomizawa Family Residence is more than simply an old farmhouse. It is an important cultural heritage site that documents the history of rural society and the sericulture industry during the Edo period.
The building’s structure, room layout, roof design, and remaining household features reveal how people adapted their homes and lifestyles to agriculture and silkworm cultivation. The residence therefore provides valuable insight into both everyday life and the rural economy of historical Gunma.
The surrounding countryside is peaceful and scenic, making the site a pleasant destination for travelers interested in Japanese history, traditional architecture, rural culture, and the history of sericulture.
The Tomizawa Family Residence is located in Daido, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. It is approximately 40 minutes by car from the Tsukiyono Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
With its combination of historic architecture, traditional rural scenery, and cultural significance, the residence makes an interesting stop for travelers exploring the countryside and historical attractions of Gunma.