Former Residence of Chiba Family

Completion year

1774

Address

8-31 Nakamise, Akigun Kaitacho, Hiroshima（Google Map）

This building preserves the history of Kaida, which prospered as an inn town on the old Nishikuni Highway. The Chiba family, whose trade name was "Jimbo-ya," was engaged in the sake brewing business, as well as serving as a tenko-yori (handling letters and packages from the Edo shogunate) and shukko-yori (handling packages from the Hiroshima Clan). The main residence, which was used as an equivalent of an ochaya (honjon) and a side honjon, was also used as a resting place for important persons, and consists of a main building, a corner building, a tatami room building, and a fountain garden.
The tatami building built inside in 1774 also had multiple sukiya-style rooms, and created a space of Edo period hospitality, along with the attached buildings and fountain garden which were created during the same period.
People traveling along the highway must have enjoyed the view of the garden from the tatami room, and felt relaxed after a long day.
[Prefecturally Designated Cultural Property]