Iwami Ginzan | Oda city, Shimane Prefecture
Nestled in an old mining town in the mountains, the Old Kawashima family residence in Oda city is a lovely example of an early Edo period Samurai house. In the Edo period, Oda city was known for its silver mine, and under the Tokugawa shogunate, the Kawashima family were the hereditary magistrates.
Unlike other cities of this era where class determined where houses were built, in Iwami town, the houses of the samurai and townsfolk were built in the same area. There was however one very stark difference between the two. The houses of the townsfolk were built along the road, whereas the houses of the samurai were built away from the from the road to allow for the building of a gate and garden.
The current house is a replica of the original house which burned to the ground during a fire in the late Edo period. Beginning with the main house in 1800, additional rooms were rebuilt, according to surviving documents which survived the blaze.
In 1990, the house underwent some restoration work, and the garden and outer wall were restored over a period of two years. The house was designated a cultural asset by the city and is open throughout the year for visitors to enjoy.