The Matsunobu Family was a big merchant family who dealt in Yame’s specialties (Japanese paper and tea) as the purveyor for the Yanagawa domain lord.
Their residence is said to have been built in the mid-19th century (late Edo Era). It is a two-story, wooden house made in the “dozo dzukuri” style with the road to its north, and the front of the house has a hip-and-gable style roof with an entrance beneath the gable, all reinforced with plaster. Representative of the typical merchant house, it has a lattice door on the first floor and fireproof door on the second floor.
The Matsunobe family continues to reside here, so the interior of the home is not generally open to the public. Advanced reservations are required to tour the interior.

*About the Building: Government-Designated Important Cultural Asset; Built in the late Edo Era