House of the Narawa Family, Fukushima Minka-en
Name of Building
House of the Narawa Family, Fukushima Minka-en
Town or City, Country where the building was originally established
Initial - Joraguchi, Yamada, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
Current - Oishimae Kaminagura, Fukushima, Japan
Date the building was designed and/or first built
Mid-18th c. - Estimation of original construction
May 1981 - Reconstructed
Name of Architect, Builder, or Primary Patron Responsible
Patron - Narawa Family
Culturally Specific Time Period
Edo period (1603 -1868)
Geo-Location
37.735944651277, 140.37117663265383
Materials
Wood, thatch, concrete
Size and/or Scale of Building
Area - 165.9 meters
Architectural Type
Domestic
Formal Style
Minka
Building Description
The building is a reconstruction of the House of the Narawa family, originally made in the mid-18th century, or the Edo period. With wooden and concrete outer walls, the house has a rectangular floor plan emphasized by its yosemune-zukuri (four-sided hipped) thatched roof. Its interior is separated into four rooms, each having small, solid wood doors. On the exterior of the home, shoji sliding doors, made from a lighter material like paper or cloth, contrast with the interior. Despite the shoji, the overall structure of the building lets little light reach inside. It is a private abode.
This house is an example of minka-style homes popularized in Japan by the non-samurai class, namely farmers, merchants, and artisans. While not the upper class, a position reserved for samurai and the shogun's prefectural advisors, these workers would accumulate wealth during the Edo period. This specific home was likely owned by a wealthy farmer, as highlighted by its large yard and guest room.
This house is an example of minka-style homes popularized in Japan by the non-samurai class, namely farmers, merchants, and artisans. While not the upper class, a position reserved for samurai and the shogun's prefectural advisors, these workers would accumulate wealth during the Edo period. This specific home was likely owned by a wealthy farmer, as highlighted by its large yard and guest room.
Image source
Image 1 - Former_House_of_the_Narawa_Family_at_Fukushima_City_Minka-en (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Former_House_of_the_Narawa_Family_at_Fukushima_City_Minka-en.jpg)
Image 2 - Interior_of_Former_House_of_the_Narawa_Family_at_Fukushima_City_Minka-en (https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fukushima_City_Minka-en#/media/File%3AInterior_of_Former_House_of_the_Narawa_Family_at_Fukushima_City_Minka-en.jpg)
Image 3 - Household objects at the Former House of the Narawa Family at Fukushima City Minka-en.jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Household_objects_at_the_Former_House_of_the_Narawa_Family_at_Fukushima_City_Minka-en.jpg)
Image 4 - Fukushima_City_Minka-en_entrance (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Fukushima_City_Minka-en_entrance.jpg)
Creative Commons or other copyright information
Image 1 - Creative Commons
Image 2 - Creative Commons
Image 3 - Creative Commons
Image 4 - Creative Commons
Student First and Last Name
Moanna Dixson
Bibliographic references for the item
“⑫旧奈良輪家 – 福島市民家園 (Facility No. 12, Former Narawa House).” *福島市民家園 (Fukushima City Folk House Garden).* https://minka‑en.com/shisetsu/shisetsu\_12.
Sasaki, Takashi. “The Japanese House: The Basic Elements of Traditional Japanese Residential Architecture.” Meguri Japan. English version by Judy Evans. https://meguri-japan.com/en/knowledge/20210627_1697/.
“Minka: Vernacular Houses of Japan.” Leaflet. Minka Preservation Project, English translation. https://minka-en.com/images/engleaflet.pdf.
Collection
Citation
Patron - Narawa Family, “House of the Narawa Family, Fukushima Minka-en,” World Architecture, accessed June 28, 2026, https://worldarchitecture.artinterp2.org/items/show/16.
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