Hagi Castle - Bukeyashiki Buildings: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:06, 13 February 2025

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Hagi Castle - Bukeyashiki Buildings

This collection showcases the remaining gates from samurai residences in Hagi, most of which have survived while the associated houses have not (so they do't have a separate samurai residence page). These gates represent an important architectural and cultural legacy, giving us a glimpse into the life and status of samurai families during the Edo period. The most common structure here is the nagayamon (long house or row house gate), which served not only as the main entrance but also as living quarters for lower-ranking samurai, guards, and family retainers. Some sections of these nagayamon were also used for storage or as stables, fulfilling multiple practical functions while reinforcing the compound’s defenses.

Gates that are accessible to the public and allow visitors to explore the interior living quarters are listed first, followed by those without open interiors.

The gates where you can enter and see such living quarters are ordered first among those below. The rest on the list do not have interiors open to the public.

Asa Mori Residence Nagayamon The Asa Mori family were among the most prominent retainers of the Mōri clan, with extensive landholdings and the largest estate near Hagi Castle in the Ninomaru (second bailey). This impressive nagayamon is often mistaken for the family’s main residence due to its size and excellent preservation. It originally housed low-ranking samurai and family retainers, reflecting the Asa Mori family’s high status and the scale of their operations.

Suu Residence Nagayamon The Suu family were upper-class samurai and key retainers of the Mōri clan. This nagayamon was built as living quarters for lower-ranking samurai and household retainers.

Kodama Residence Gate This beautifully preserved nagaya belonged to the Kodama family, another upper-class samurai household. While not the main gate to the Kodama compound, it was built along a side wall and showcases the traditional architecture of the period.

Masuda Residence Yagura The Masuda family served as senior retainers of the Mōri. This large yagura (11m x 6m) was used to store weapons and stood guard near the Kita-no-somon (North Gate), providing both storage and a defensive function. Its proximity to the riding grounds and one of only three gates across the sotobori (outer moat) made it a strategically useful structure.

Ninomiya Residence Nagayamon The Ninomiya family were upper-class samurai whose ancestors participated in the original construction of Hagi Castle. This nagayamon preserves a four-mat-sized guard’s room on one side, reflecting its dual purpose.

Murata Seifu Residence Nagayamon Murata Seifu, a key figure in Chōshū’s contributions to the Tenpō Reforms, lived at this residence for 25 years, but only this gate remains.

Kogawa Residence Nagayamon The Kogawa family were lower-class samurai. After the Mōri moved their administrative center to Yamaguchi, Kogawa stayed in Hagi as a local magistrate. The residence’s location, far from the main castle and higher-ranking samurai estates, reflects the family’s original class status. Today, the gate leads to the Nagayamon Coffee Cafe, where the gate itself is still used for storage.

Okudaira Residence Nagayamon The Okudaira family were middle-class samurai. This gate, estimated to have been built in the early 1800s, now serves as the entrance to a private home but has been preserved in excellent condition.

Watanabe Residence Nagayamon The Watanabe Residence was built during the Meiji Period by Watanabe Kōzō, a former samurai and the only student of Yoshida Shōin to live into the Shōwa era. Following the Meiji Restoration, Watanabe played a key role in Japan’s modernization as an industrial pioneer and government official. The nagayamon gate, however, was repurposed from a nearby samurai residence. Though off the main tourist path, this beautiful riverside home is worth visiting for its unique combination of traditional and Western architectural elements. According to the guide they get few international tourists!

Soshiki Residence Nagaya The Soshiki were also upper class samurai. the Nagaya looks like it was originally longer and was maybe split at some point. You'll see that the roof on either side is different. It may have originally been part of a larger nagayamon structure.

Fukuhara Residence Gate The Fukuhara family were senior retainers of the Mōri and controlled 200,000 koku of land in Ube. The most senior member resided at this estate in Hagi. Only this gate remains today, which is unusual for such a high-ranking family. You would expect a nagayamon with attached guard quarters. It’s possible that other nagaya or staff quarters existed but were lost over time.

Hanzawa Residence Nagayamon The Hanzawa family were upper-class samurai related to the Agawa branch of the Mōri clan. Though the interior is not open to the public, the gate’s substantial size suggests it was used as housing for lower-ranking samurai or servants, much like the nagayamon of the Asa Mori and Suu residences above.

Map issue There is a strange anomaly with the map below. There is no data at this zoom level. Please zoom in or out one step to see the underlying map

Gallery

Asa Mori Residence Nagayamon

Suu Residence Nagayamon

Kodama Residence Nagayamon

Masuda Watchtower

Ninomiya Residence Nagayamon

Murata Seifu Residence Nagayamon

Kogawa Residence Nagayamon

Okudaira Residence Nagayamon

Watanabe Residence Nagayamon

Soshiki Residence Nagaya

Fukuhara Residence Gate

Hanzawa Residence Gate

Maki Moku Residence Nagaya & Kabukimon

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 '''Kogawa Residence Nagayamon'''
 The Kogawa family were lower-class samurai. After the Mōri moved their administrative center to Yamaguchi, Kogawa stayed in Hagi as a local magistrate. The residence’s location, far from the main castle and higher-ranking samurai estates, reflects the family’s original class status. Today, the gate leads to the Nagayamon Coffee Cafe, where the gate itself is still used for storage.
 '''Okudaira Residence Nagayamon'''
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 '''Watanabe Residence Nagayamon'''
 The Watanabe Residence was built during the Meiji Period by Watanabe Kōzō, a former samurai and the only student of Yoshida Shōin to live into the Shōwa era. Following the Meiji Restoration, Watanabe played a key role in Japan’s modernization as an industrial pioneer and government official. The nagayamon gate, however, was repurposed from a nearby samurai residence. Though off the main tourist path, this beautiful riverside home is worth visiting for its unique combination of traditional and Western architectural elements. According to the guide they get few international tourists!
 '''Soshiki Residence Nagaya'''

Hagi Castle - Bukeyashiki Buildings: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:06, 13 February 2025

Hagi Castle - Bukeyashiki Buildings

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