Nakagawa Residence (Former Nakagawa Family House) is a beautifully preserved modern Japanese-style residence dating from the early Showa period, located in the historic Terauchi-machi district of Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture. The house was once the residence of the prosperous Nakagawa family, a prominent timber merchant family.
Located about 100 meters north of Honganji Hidaka Betsuin in the center of Gobo, the residence stands in an area filled with historic atmosphere. Today, visitors can explore the property free of charge, making it an excellent stop for travelers interested in architecture, history, and traditional Japanese townscapes.
Completed in 1938, the residence was so magnificent that it became known locally as “Hidaka Goten,” meaning “Hidaka Palace.” Although the building is fundamentally Japanese in style, it incorporates a Western-style reception room and a variety of modern decorative details. The result offers a fascinating glimpse into the affluent lifestyle and sophisticated aesthetic tastes of Japan in the early Showa era.
The residence is also said to have hosted Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, who later served as Prime Minister of Japan, as well as the internationally renowned naturalist Minakata Kumagusu. For this reason, the former Nakagawa residence is an important part of Gobo’s architectural and cultural history.
The Nakagawa family has a long history dating back to the Kanbun era of the early Edo period. For generations, the family was involved in forestry and the timber trade, eventually becoming one of the prosperous merchant families of the region.
During the time of Nakagawa Keizaburo, the family business expanded significantly, laying the foundation for what would eventually become Nakagawa Mokuzai Sangyo Co., Ltd.
The construction of the former Nakagawa residence reportedly cost an extraordinary 100,000 yen and took approximately five years. At the time, a house could reportedly be built for around 1,000 yen, making the enormous investment in the residence a clear indication of the family’s wealth and status.
The building was structurally completed in 1937 and finished the following year. Its imposing appearance would have made it particularly impressive among the surrounding buildings of Gobo, and its substantial exterior continues to attract visitors today.
One of the greatest attractions of the former Nakagawa residence is the way it combines traditional Japanese architecture with Western-style design.
The exterior features multiple irimoya roofs, a traditional Japanese roof style with a combination of gabled and hipped forms. Broad eaves extend around the building, giving it a dignified and substantial appearance.
The residence stands on a stone foundation overlooking the historic street of the Terauchi-machi district. Unlike a traditional Japanese merchant townhouse, the building has a more spacious layout, with the entrance positioned centrally and various rooms arranged on either side.
Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a beautiful inner courtyard. The rooms are arranged around this courtyard, with spaces extending to both the north and south sides. This design brings natural light and a sense of openness into the large residence.
One of the most striking spaces inside the residence is the Western-style reception room. The room reflects the modern cultural influences that were becoming increasingly popular in Japan during the early Showa period.
A fireplace, imported wallpaper, and decorative Western-style beams create an elegant interior that would have been considered highly sophisticated at the time. Rather than appearing out of place, these Western elements are carefully incorporated into the larger Japanese-style residence.
The windows of the reception room also feature horizontally proportioned fittings that contribute to its refined appearance. Together, these details demonstrate the high level of design awareness of the people who commissioned the house.
The Japanese-style room beside the entrance features particularly beautiful latticework. Rather than using only straight vertical lines, the craftsmen incorporated graceful curves into the design, creating an elegant decorative effect.
Such details can easily be overlooked at first glance, but they reveal the skill of the craftsmen who built the residence. From the overall structure to the smallest decorative elements, the house preserves the sophisticated craftsmanship and luxurious architectural culture of early Showa-era Japan.
As the home of a successful timber merchant, it is only natural that the residence makes extensive use of high-quality wood.
Fine Japanese cypress, or hinoki, was used for many of the structural elements, including pillars, beams, and fittings. The extensive use of carefully selected timber gives the interior a distinctive combination of warmth, elegance, and solidity.
The residence is primarily a single-story wooden structure, although part of the building has two floors. The total building area is approximately 308 square meters.
Much of the original appearance has survived remarkably well, making the residence an important example of modern Japanese-style domestic architecture from the early Showa period.
The property includes not only the main residence but also two traditional storehouses known as the East Storehouse and West Storehouse.
These kura, traditional Japanese storehouses designed to protect valuable goods from fire and humidity, feature white plaster walls and tiled roofs. The plasterwork around the windows is particularly carefully finished.
The storehouses are important not only as practical buildings but also as essential elements of the historic landscape. The sight of the main residence standing alongside the traditional kura gives visitors a strong impression of the elegant compound of a prosperous merchant family in early 20th-century Japan.
The former Nakagawa residence continued to be used as an actual home until around the 1960s. After that, however, the building gradually deteriorated, and there was even a possibility that it would be sold or demolished.
Concerned about preserving Gobo’s historic townscape, local residents and the Gobo Machizukuri Committee began efforts to protect the building. Their activities eventually led to the restoration and preservation of the residence.
A major restoration project was carried out in 2014. Following the renovation, the property was given the name “Nakagawa” and began a new life as a center for local cultural activities.
Today, the historic residence is used for exhibitions, gallery events, and other cultural programs. It has become a place where visitors can experience the architecture while also learning about the history and culture of Gobo.
One of the most appealing features of the property is Soba & Cafe Nakagawa, which was created by renovating one of the traditional storehouses.
The restaurant offers a relaxed Japanese atmosphere where visitors can enjoy dishes such as handmade soba noodles, tempura rice bowls, and oyakodon, a traditional Japanese rice bowl topped with chicken and egg.
One particularly popular item is the soba pudding, limited to just 10 servings per day. Made with buckwheat flour, it has a gentle sweetness and a pleasant roasted, nutty aroma.
The café’s combination of traditional architecture and a nostalgic Showa-retro atmosphere makes it a pleasant place to take a break while exploring Gobo’s historic district.
The former Nakagawa residence is located in the historic Terauchi-machi district, centered around Honganji Hidaka Betsuin. The surrounding streets contain old merchant houses, traditional townhouses, and other historic landmarks.
The distinctive Kishu Railway also passes through the area, adding to the nostalgic character of this part of Gobo.
Exploring the former Nakagawa residence as part of a leisurely walk through the historic district is an excellent way to understand the city’s past. Visitors can see how religious institutions, merchants, transportation, and everyday life were closely connected in historic Gobo.
For international travelers, the residence is particularly interesting because it provides an intimate look at how an affluent Japanese family lived during the early Showa period. Rather than simply viewing a historic building from the outside, visitors can appreciate its rooms, materials, craftsmanship, and design in detail.
Address: 105 Gobo, Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
By car: Approximately 10 minutes from Gobo Interchange on the Yuasa-Gobo Road.
Nakagawa Residence, the former Nakagawa family home, is one of Gobo’s most fascinating historic buildings. Its grand scale, high-quality timber, traditional Japanese craftsmanship, Western-style reception room, and beautifully preserved storehouses reveal the wealth and refined tastes of a successful timber merchant family.
At the same time, its survival is a testament to the efforts of local residents who recognized the importance of preserving Gobo’s historic townscape. Today, the residence has been given a new role as a cultural space where visitors can experience the atmosphere of another era.
When exploring Gobo City, take time to walk through the historic Terauchi-machi district and visit this remarkable residence. Within its elegant combination of Japanese tradition and Showa-era modernism, visitors can experience a fascinating chapter of Japan’s architectural and social history.