The Kumagai Family and the Development of Iwami Ginzan
A Powerful Merchant Family Connected to the Silver Mine
The Kumagai family is believed to have originally been associated with the Mori clan. By the early Edo period, the family had become deeply involved in the management and businesses surrounding the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, and by the 17th century they were already conducting silver-related activities.
During the 18th century, the family took on important financial and administrative responsibilities. They served as kakeya, merchants responsible for managing public funds for the local magistrate’s office, and also worked as merchants serving the shogunate.
Their responsibilities included weighing silver, checking its purity, and handling tax collection. These important duties enabled the Kumagai family to accumulate considerable wealth and establish a prominent position within the community.
Serving as Town Officials
Members of the Kumagai family also served as machidoshiyori, or town officials. This position connected local residents with the magistrate’s office and involved helping manage the affairs of the community.
For this reason, Kumagai Residence was not simply a private merchant home. It also functioned as an important center of economic, administrative, and social activity in historic Omori.
The Great Fire of 1800 and the Rebuilding of the Residence
In 1800, a major fire known as the Kanjō Fire destroyed much of Omori. Kumagai Residence was also lost in the disaster.
Reconstruction began the following year, in 1801. Additional storehouses, reception rooms, and other buildings were added during the late Edo period and early Meiji period, eventually creating the large complex that visitors can see today.
The detailed history of these additions and changes has been documented through surviving historical records and traditional architectural plans. These materials provide valuable evidence of how the residence developed over time.
One of the Largest Merchant Houses in Iwami Ginzan
A Spacious Historic Estate
Kumagai Residence stands near the northern end of the historic Omori townscape, along the road leading toward the silver mine. The property covers approximately 1,500 square meters and includes the main building, five traditional storehouses, a storage building, earthen walls, a well, and other structures.
It is particularly notable for its scale. Among the historic buildings of the Iwami Ginzan area, Kumagai Residence is recognized as one of the largest surviving merchant houses.
The thick plastered earthen walls and traditional Sekishu roof tiles give the complex a dignified appearance. Passing through the gate and entering the earthen-floored area, visitors can see massive pine beams and a large zelkova central pillar.
The buildings have stood for more than 220 years, creating an atmosphere of quiet dignity that is distinctly different from modern architecture.
Features of the Main Building
The main building is a large two-story wooden structure with a traditional Sekishu-tile roof. A broad earthen-floored passage runs along the southern side, while living and reception rooms are arranged along the northern side.
A tatami-floored corridor runs alongside the garden, giving the merchant residence an elegant quality reminiscent of a traditional samurai mansion.
The bath, toilets, kitchen, storehouse-front reception room, and other facilities are arranged throughout the building. Their layout provides a detailed look at how a large and prosperous merchant household functioned during the Edo period.
Highlights of Kumagai Residence
The Inner Reception Room
The Inner Reception Room is one of the most formal spaces in Kumagai Residence. It consists of an eight-tatami-mat room connected to two six-tatami-mat rooms, creating an elegant reception area for important guests.
The room was used to receive officials and other distinguished visitors. Particularly valuable is the fact that this part of the residence retains much of its original appearance.
Sitting quietly while looking toward the inner garden makes it easy to imagine the formal meetings, business discussions, and hospitality that once took place here.
The Underground Storehouse
One of the residence’s most unusual features is its underground storehouse. Built beneath the floor of the living area, this stone-lined storage space provided a secure place to protect valuable possessions from fire.
The underground room was discovered during conservation and restoration work. Its existence demonstrates the careful approach to fire prevention and asset protection used by wealthy households during the Edo period.
The room could be accessed by lifting the tatami mats and climbing down a ladder, providing an intriguing glimpse into the practical ingenuity of the period.
The Second Floor
The second floor contains spacious tatami rooms, including rooms with ten and eight tatami mats. It has been restored to reflect its appearance from the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period.
The upper floor is thought to have also served as an inn for officials and other visitors. Exhibitions of traditional bridal furnishings, household goods, and special displays allow visitors to learn more about the lifestyle of the Kumagai family.
The Large Traditional Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the best places to appreciate the scale of daily life in this prosperous merchant household.
The spacious room features massive wooden beams and as many as 10 traditional cooking hearths. Traditional household equipment, including wooden steamers, cutting boards, and water jars, is also displayed.
Given the size of the residence, the kitchen would have been used to prepare meals for numerous servants and guests. Standing in this space gives visitors a vivid sense of the wealth and scale of the Kumagai household.
A Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property
Kumagai Residence was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1998 because of its outstanding historical and architectural value.
The designation covers not only the main building but also the surrounding structures, including the Northern Tool Storehouse, Small Storehouse, Clothing Storehouse, Eastern Tool Storehouse, Rice and Miscellaneous Storehouse, as well as the wider site.
A large merchant residence of this scale, with such a high level of preservation, is a valuable example of traditional Japanese architecture.
Part of the Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Site
In 2007, Kumagai Residence became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape.”
The heritage site is significant not only because of the silver mine itself, but also because it encompasses the historic settlements, transportation routes, cultural landscapes, and communities that supported mining activities.
Kumagai Residence represents the merchant culture and prosperous urban life that developed around Iwami Ginzan, helping visitors understand the human side of the silver mine’s history.
Local Efforts to Preserve the Residence
The preservation and use of Kumagai Residence have also involved a local women’s group known as “Ie no Onnatachi,” meaning “the women of the house.”
The group helps present seasonal decorations, household objects, and cultural events, bringing a human perspective to the historic property.
Rather than simply preserving the buildings as static monuments, these activities help maintain the residence as a place where visitors can imagine the daily lives and traditions of the people who once lived there.
Explore Historic Omori Alongside Kumagai Residence
Kumagai Residence is surrounded by numerous historic sites connected with Iwami Ginzan, including Former Kawashima Residence, Muneoka Residence, and the former site of the magistrate’s office.
The streets of Omori retain traditional scenery, including red and Sekishu-tile roofs, narrow lanes, earthen walls, and peaceful riverside views.
Walking slowly through the historic district allows visitors to appreciate how the town once developed around the silver mine and to discover the relationship between the mine, merchants, officials, craftspeople, and local residents.
How to Get to Kumagai Residence
From Oda-shi Station on the JR San’in Main Line, take an Iwami Kotsu bus on the Omori–Oie route. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes. Get off at the Omori Daikansho-ato bus stop, followed by a walk of approximately three minutes.
Another enjoyable way to visit is to start at the Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center and explore the historic townscape on foot while making your way to Kumagai Residence.
Experience the History and Everyday Life of Iwami Ginzan
Kumagai Residence is much more than an old Japanese house. It preserves the history of a wealthy merchant family that played an important role in the prosperity of Iwami Ginzan, as well as the architecture and everyday life of a major Edo-period merchant household.
The massive wooden beams, traditional storehouses, elegant tatami rooms, underground storehouse, and large kitchen offer fascinating details that bring the past to life.
When visiting the historic town of Omori, take time to explore Kumagai Residence and discover the rich history, architecture, and culture that developed around Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.