Visiting Chikugo-Yoshii again

In the morning, I went to Chikugo-Yoshii (筑後吉井). I've already visited there in March. That day was a weekday but there was held the Hinamatsuri (ひな祭り) dolls festival at Kagamida Yashiki (鏡田屋敷) Samurai Residence. We couldn't see all the attractions because it was very crowded with lots of people!

This time I visited to Igura-no-yakata (居蔵の館) near the Kagamida Yashiki house, a venue where the doll festival was held. It's a unique white-walled storehouse building of houses that remain from the old days to Yoshii. Built at the end of the Meiji period which was renovated in the early Taisho period, it seems to be moved the Matsuda family that had been involved in bank management as a branch of the landlord who made a wealth by wax models.

Noh masks welcome you visiting.  Be careful, you must take off your shoes before entering the house.

A house kitchen. Kitchenware that was used at that time are on display.

A view of Japanese garden from the living room. It's a large garden with some maple trees, we'll see beautiful autumn colors in November.

Tatami living rooms

A view of downstairs from upstairs. There is a family alter (神棚; kamidana in Japanese) in the center picture which is used for primarily to worship the God of Shinto, such as in home and office.

A distant view of the Minoh Mountains (耳納山脈 - sanmyaku) from living room upstairs.

A roadside canal running through the old town of Chikugo-Yoshii. On the opposite side of canal, there is a Shinto shrine, called Susanoo-jinja. This is an impressive tower gate painted in red.

Dokura (土蔵) is a rest and relax place. It has been renovated the aging old sake brewery to a tourist center. A specialty of this shop is a Japanese jelly bean sweet which is a made of persimmon. There are some cafes and restaurants inside, you try to taste some local dishes!