A treasure that conveys the history of the region: "Igura no Yakata" - a branch of the Matsuda family, a wax refinery
As you head towards Susanoo Shrine, crossing the white-walled street lined with townhouses in Yoshii-machi, a particularly large house will catch your eye across Minami-Shinkawa River, which was dug during the Edo period.
This building is called "Igura no Yakata" (living storehouse) because of its structure that includes a storehouse with living quarters on the premises.
The exterior is surrounded by a wall, and is a luxurious structure with plaster and a tiled roof. The second floor windows are equipped with iron doors to withstand fires.
The landscape of Yoshii Town's rows of white-walled storehouses can be traced back to the large-scale fires that occurred at the end of the Edo period and into the Meiji era.
Yoshii has developed since the Edo period, but has suffered three major fires, and since then, the townscape has changed from thatched roofs to fire-resistant tiled storehouses.
Among the townhouses in Yoshii-machi, one of the most well-finished and representative Igura houses is the "Igura no Yakata." It was built in the Meiji period and remodeled in the Taisho period by a branch of the Matsuda family, who were large landowners and made their living from smelt wax. The smelt wax business enriched the Matsuda family and the entire Yoshii area, and the family also ran a bank called "Yoshii Gane."
From the entrance to the dirt floor, you can see a huge Shinto altar and an impressive atrium. This is a Japanese-style building with beautiful wood grain, including impressive beams and pillars that have turned amber with age, and intricately carved box stairs. You can also see the garden from the tatami room, and the wall facing the garden has a fan-shaped transom that lets in light and ventilation.
As you walk along the corridor, you'll come across the modern toilet and bathroom, both decorated with Majolica tiles. The bathroom ceiling has a mechanism that allows steam to escape through spaces between the radially offset boards.
Ikura-no-Yakata, which has plenty of other things to see, is open to the public free of charge.
This facility is a truly "emotional" spot in modern terms, and is an architectural gem worth seeing.
Igura no Yakata
address | : | 1103-1 Yoshiicho, Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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phone | : | 0943-76-5777 |
business hours | : | 9:00~16:30 |
Opening hours | : | Monday |
URL | : | https://ukihalove.jp/contents_tag/%E5%B1%85%E8%94%B5%E3%81%AE%E9%A4%A8/ |

"Igura no Yakata", a merchant's mansion remaining in Yoshii Town

Visible from the dirt floor is a large Shinto altar modeled after the main building of Ise Jingu Shrine.

It is a branch of the Matsuda family, which was a merchant of white wax, a material used for candles.

The raw material for white wax is the fruit of the 'Haze tree'. Haze trees were also planted here (photo of Ansutei)

The "udatsu" was built on the opposite side of the entrance. Udatsu is a fireproof wall, but it was built as a decoration.

A transom is embedded in the wall of the tatami room. It is curved and fan-shaped, allowing for ventilation, and when the small window is opened it retracts into the wall.

The radial ceiling in the bathroom serves as a ventilation hole.

Small tiles are used on the sink, showing attention to detail

The main attraction of Igura-no-Yakata is the toilet, which is covered with Majolica tiles.

The intricate craftsmanship of the fittings, such as the kumiko shoji screens and transoms, is captivating.
Enjoy the scenery of white-walled storehouses and townhouses in Yoshii Town
The town of Yoshii flourished as a post town at the heart of the Bungo Kaido road and a key political and economic point in the Chikugo region since the Edo period, and further prospered through the harvesting and processing of commercial crops by digging waterways, and in the Meiji period it became a town inhabited by people who built enormous wealth through high-quality refined wax, sake brewing, rapeseed oil, etc. From the Meiji to Taisho periods, luxurious townhouses made of plaster and symbolizing wealth were built one after another, forming the townscape we see today.
Kura-sikku Street and Shirakabe Street are lined with earthen storehouses, some of which are used as residences and some have been renovated into shops, but the entire area has been designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings due to its high historical value and the well-preserved townscape.
There are still many mansions remaining that give a sense of Yoshii's prosperity, such as the former sake brewery "Tengoku Yayoshi Sake Brewery," with its impressive gray plaster walls and rustic tiles; the garden and large hall of the former Koga family (now the Ikuha Villa Toraya and Anrin-tei), who made their living from refined wax; and the former Matsugen Shoten (now the Machinami Koryukan Shoka), which was once one of the largest dried fish wholesalers in the Chikugo region.
The 32nd Chikugo Yoshii Ohinasama Meguri (already finished) is held this year, and many people visit to see the area's unique "okiage" and seven-tiered display. This event is held every year around March 3rd, the Girls' Festival.
The fact that many of the houses still have gorgeous Hinamatsuri dolls is proof that the area has cherished and preserved its old houses, and also shows that Yoshii once had many wealthy people.
Just strolling through the beautiful, abundant waterways and winding alleys that run through the town is satisfying, and the atmospheric Chikugo Yoshii is a place where you can relax and unwind. With seasonal fruit picking, camping, hot springs and more, it's a town that can satisfy any occasion, whether you're traveling with your family, a couple, friends or solo.
Tourist Hall Kura
address | : | 1043-2 Yoshiicho, Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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phone | : | 0943-76-3980 |
business hours | : | 9:00~17:00 |
Closed Day | : | Monday |
URL | : | https://ukihalove.jp/ |

Yakichi Sake Brewery, which produced the brand "Amakuni." There is an iron fence to prevent fires.

The attractive tiled entrance is at the end of a white-walled street, and is the main building of Yayoshi Sakaba.

The restaurant "Ansutei," with its luxurious transoms and glass windows facing the garden, is the former residence of the Koga family, a merchant family dealing in white wax, a raw material for candles.

Kagamida Mansion, built in 1863 (Bunkyu 3) at the end of the Edo period

The doma is connected directly to the waterway, and the structure remains unchanged from the old days.

A historical building where you can see what life was like back then. Admission is free.

When it was first built, it served as the residence of the district office. It has a two-tiered seating area for senior officials.

The second floor, which was added in 1893, is open.

From Kurashikku Street to Shirakabe Street, the prosperous Yoshii is lined with fine houses built during the Meiji period.

Matsugen Honten was a famous seafood merchant throughout Chikugo. It is now open to the public as the Townscape Exchange Center.

The drawers where seafood was stored are still there in the store.

It is also interesting to admire the houses decorated with namako walls and unique plaster patterns.

The plaster walls feature trowel paintings that highlight the skill of the plasterer.

In the "Ohinasama Meguri" tour, you can stroll around and look at the gorgeous seven-tiered Hina dolls displayed in various stores and tourist facilities. The "okiage" made of paper and bamboo is unique to this area.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.