Two historic homes located in Hyogo Prefecture, in western Japan, and originally built by influential feudal-era families, are set to be officially recognized as National Treasures. It will be the first occasion in which private residences receive this status in the country.
On Friday, a panel from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs recommended the designation. One of the properties, known as Hakogike Residence Omoya, is located in Kobe City and is believed to have been built around the 14th century by a powerful local clan. The structure features a traditional thatched roof, while its floors and sliding doors still preserve marks left by carpentry tools used during construction. These details provide valuable insight into the building techniques of the period.
The second property, called the Former Furuike Residence, is situated in Himeji City. Surrounded by walls coated in clay, the residence has very few doors and windows — architectural characteristics commonly seen in the homes of wealthy farming families during the 15th century.
Both residences carry significant historical value and are considered important examples for understanding the domestic lifestyle of influential families in feudal Japan.
If officially approved, the panel’s recommendation will bring the total number of National Treasure-designated structures in Japan to 235.
Source: NHK
Image: NHK