wanoi KAKUNODATE: A place to journey through the memories of traditional life.

The Nishinomiya Family was once a prominent lineage among the retainers of the Imamiya Family in Kakunodate. The detached room in the Nishinomiya Family’s main residence is known as the Sakurabitonoma. A porch that embodies the charm of the four seasons overlooks a garden where weeping cherry trees (shidarezakura) enhance the experience of your journey. Spring flowers, summer greenery, autumn brocade, and winter snow. Relish the timeless scenery once cherished by the head of the Nishinomiya Family.

An ancestor of the Nishinomiya Family whose house is located on the Tamachi Samurai Residence Street, the other street in Kakunodate famous for samurai residence, was a highly regarded samurai at the time. With respect and awe for the samurai and his era, the space of this kura storehouse is built to make you feel the lives of the time that has gone by, including the lifestyle and culture of samurai. There are also tactile tools once used by samurai, with which guests can enjoy an experience of time travel.

This Bunkogura is reputed to be the oldest storehouse belonging to the Nishinomiya Family. The Bunkogura formerly stored numerous books and household items, which have been carefully preserved through generations. In a space featuring bookstands, antique books, washi-paper lighting, and other literary furnishings, spend time immersed in literature and history, just as people did long ago.

Treasuring the history of this kura storehouse, which was used to store gakko (pickles), the space is designed with tools related to pickles used as decorative items and motifs. Guests can also enjoy unique experience. The bathtub is inspired by a barrel for pickles, from which visitors can enjoy the view of cherry blossoms in the spring.

The storehouse, characterized by its high ceiling and large beams, is reputed to have been used for sericulture (the cultivation of silkworms for silk production) in the past. Inspired by the history of the storehouse, the space features furnishings with motifs of cocoons and silk threads, allowing guests to feel the breath of craftsmanship. You can enjoy a time that feels as though you are gently enveloped by the storehouse itself.

This kura storehouse is located perfectly, right next to the samurai residence street. Guests can enjoy their stay at a uniquely designed space, where fabrics and tools are displayed as interior decoration, based on the villa’s history of originally being a fabric store.