Old Kaneko Family Home

Old Kaneko Family Home is an old folk house of merchants, dealing second-hand clothes since 1854. They later sold Japanese clothes until 1982 in this house. Today, the inside of the house remains the same as it used to be. As a result, this traditional building is chosen as a tangible cultural property of the city of Akita. In fact, it represents a common merchant's building of the ancient time. As a result, you can see the house and the storehouse of merchant in old days.

(Source: 二〇世紀ひみつ基地)

Inside the store

The old Kaneko Family dealt with various clothes and tissues of kimono. The articles are preserved in the storehouse made of mud. They brought the articles to the store when a client ordered. You can see how they put a price tag on the articles, how they packed their products and how they kept the account book at this place.

(Source: かめごろうのブログ・かめログ - Yahoo!ブログ)

Dozo (storehouse made of mud) where they kept the articles

As you enter the house from the entrance, the store is situated on the right. If you take "Tori doma," which is a corridor made of mud, you will reach the storehouse. They call this storehouse, "Dozo," surrounded by black walls and several doors locking the place. Now the storehouse has been transformed into a resting place. Sometimes concerts take place here as well.

(Source: 建築 | life is freedom)

(Source: 元番狂わせ野郎のおみまいシリーズ)

"Tensui game" for a fire

"Tensui game" is a water jar that they kept on the roof. It is one of the feature of old house in Akita. In fact, this jar stocked rain water and is used when there is a fire. Although it is not common to have this today, many houses of this area had it on the roof a long time ago.