Japan’s Edo Period Preserved in Former Mansion of Merchant Family in Kashiwa Historic Park, Chiba Pref.

By Yuto Omori / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

17:46 JST, April 13, 2026

KASHIWA, Chiba — A lush, verdant pocket of land stands out in a residential area near the Tone River in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. It belongs to the Former Yoshida Family Residence, where once stood the mansion of a wealthy farmer during the Edo period (1603-1867).

After being donated to the city in 2004, the site was opened as the Former Yoshida Family Residence and Historic Park in November 2009.

Eight structures on the grounds, including the main house, shoin study room and storehouses, were designated as national important cultural properties in 2010. Within easy reach of central Tokyo, the park is a popular destination for tourists looking to immerse themselves in history.

After passing through the expansive Nagayamon gate, which spans 25 meters in width, visitors enter the grounds to find the main house, constructed in 1854, standing before them.

The main house is characterized by its massive, thatched roof, featuring eaves with a striking thickness of about 1 meter. Inside, the daikokubashira central pillar — standing since the building’s construction — soars upward, surrounded by an array of rooms including an earthen-floor area and a Buddhist altar room.

A covered walkway leads to the shoin study room, which houses a front maezashiki room and an inner okuzashiki room. Adding to the refined atmosphere are the intricately carved ranma transoms set above the fusuma sliding doors that partition the space.

The Yoshida family rose to prominence as local merchants, finding success in finance and grain trading. Their entrepreneurial reach eventually extended to soy sauce brewing, an industry that would later become a hallmark specialty of the region.

Leveraging their wealth, the Yoshida family dedicated themselves to promoting sports from the Meiji era (1868-1912) through the Showa era (1926-1989). This legacy continues at the nearby Yoshida Memorial Tennis Training Center, a facility with deep family ties that produced world-class athletes like Shingo Kunieda, the wheelchair tennis legend who achieved a career Golden Slam.

Its atmospheric beauty has made the residence a sought-after filming location for various movies and TV dramas, including the popular Edo-period TV series “JIN.” Beyond the screen, the site is a favorite for pre-wedding and Coming-of-Age Day photo sessions, with private reservations available.

“It’s a rare site where the buildings from the Edo period’s final years have been preserved, allowing visitors to feel as if they’ve stepped back in time,” said park director Kenji Watanabe, 71. “I encourage people to come and immerse themselves in this unique atmosphere.”

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Former Yoshida Family Residence and Historic Park

Address: 974-1 Hananoi, Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture

Access: About 15 minutes by car from the Kashiwa Interchange on the Joban Expressway.

Hours: From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays (or the following day if Monday falls on a national holiday).