Hagi Castle - Bukeyashiki Buildings

This album showcases the original structures from other samurai residences where the house no longer exists so it does not have a separate samurai residence page. The most common structure type below is the nagayamon or nagaya. As the name implies ("long house" or row house) gates are large structur

Hagi Castle - Bukeyashiki Buildings

This album showcases the original structures from other samurai residences where the house no longer exists so it does not have a separate samurai residence page. The most common structure type below is the nagayamon or nagaya. As the name implies ("long house" or row house) gates are large structures that were typically quarters for lower class samurai, guards, or other family servants or retainers. This also helped them to serve double duty as a defense for the main gate into the compound. Sections of a nagayamon could have also been used for storage or a stable.

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 one of the largest landolders of the Mori and had the largest estate near the castle in the Ninomaru Bailey. This building is sometimes confused with being their actual residence because it is so large and well maintained but the original home is now gone. This nagayamon housed low ranking samurai and family retainers.

Suu Residence Nagayamon The Suu were one of the top ranking upper class samurai in Hagi. This nagayamon gate was fitted out as living quarters for low ranking samurai and house retainers.

Kodama Residence Gate This is another beautifully preserved nagaya from an upper class samurai family. This was not the main gate to the Kodama's compound but was built along a side wall.