Matsudaira Oh'oku

The 'Matsudaira Samurai Residence' in the castle town of Obata is located on the main street which leads up to the castle, bounded by stone walls. Ôoku, its name in Japanese, refers to the inner chambers of a palace or residence. The site is partially open to the public, though there is little to se

Background

The 'Matsudaira Samurai Residence' in the castle town of Obata is located on the main street which leads up to the castle, bounded by stone walls. Ôoku, its name in Japanese, refers to the inner chambers of a palace or residence. The site is partially open to the public, though there is little to see. An explanation board stands beyond the gate, which, open, invites one in, but then much of the property is barred to the public. The explanation offered dwells on the garden, which was landscaped in the Edo Period, but casual visitors may only expect a glimpse of it. The garden is centered around a still pond without any flowing water, emphasising silence. The house is still lived in and I spoke to one of the inhabitants. The annex of the house adjacent to the garden appears to be the ôoku, or part of it, and it is said that the lady of the house kept her chambermaids here. It is further said that the Shōgun had 15 or so court ladies evacuated during the arrival of Commodore Perry in Edo Bay, and that they stayed here, thus 'Ôoku'.

Gallery

Matsudaira Oh'oku Profile
English Name	Matsudaira Oh'oku
Japanese Name	小幡城下町松平武家屋敷・松平大奥
Year	Edo Period
Residence Type	Upper Class
Features	Gates, Garden, House
Visitor Information	Partially open to public (free)
Location	Kanra, Gunma Prefecture
Castle	Obata Jin'ya
Coordinates	36.22894, 138.91733
Obata Jin'ya and nearby Samurai Homes
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Added Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART

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