Hayashida Daishoya Japanese Traditional House

Hayashida Daishoya is a Japanese traditional house that used to be the residence of the Miki clan. They believe it was built at the beginning of the Edo period. The Edo period was between 1603 and 1868. The house has a garden, the main house, 3 storehouses, a steam bath area and other things. This house was not a house for a regular villager but it was of someone with status. The picture below on the right was the personal taxi of the homeowner. He would be in the palanquin while one person on each side of the beam would carry it to the destination.

  

The day we went there was a temporary Japanese doll exhibition. We learned that the old Japanese couple is a typical gift a man gives to his fiancée as a symbol of growing old together. There were other dolls throughout the exhibition. They were beautiful and detailed.

  

There was another exhibition in another room full of paintings of different events and places in Japan. The one below reminded me of the Shinzaike Autumn Matsuri (local shrine festival) that happened not too long ago.

    

We were first greeted by a group of high school students who give tours of the house. They were quite shy about using English on their tour. After their tour ended, we were able to walk around the garden and take some pictures. If it hadn't been for some community members showing us this place, we would have never known of its existence; it seems to be off the beaten path for foreign tourists.