Nakamura Residence (Okinawa)

Architecture Shaped by Okinawa’s Climate

The main residence was built in the mid-18th century and incorporates architectural influences from Japanese styles of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. At the same time, it features many techniques uniquely adapted to the subtropical climate of Okinawa.

The property is surrounded by Ryukyu limestone walls and fukugi trees, which served as protection from Okinawa’s powerful typhoons. The heavy red tiles of the roof were firmly secured with plaster, helping prevent them from being blown away by strong winds.

The roof also features a distinctive traditional structure known as amahaji, an extended eave that projects outward from the building. It provides shade from Okinawa’s intense sunlight while also protecting the walls and living spaces from heavy rain.

These practical features demonstrate how traditional Okinawan homes were carefully designed to withstand the region’s challenging natural environment.

A Traditional Farmhouse of the Ryukyu Kingdom

The Nakamura family was a prosperous farming family, and the residence preserves a remarkably detailed picture of how a wealthy agricultural household once lived.

The historic compound consists of the Ufuyā, or main house, including the kitchen known as the Tungwā; the Ashagi, a separate reception building; a raised storehouse known as the Takakura; the Mēnu-yā, used as an animal shelter and storage building; and the Fūru, a traditional pigsty combined with a toilet.

The grounds also include a hinpun, a traditional privacy wall placed in front of the residence, a well, stone walls, and fukugi trees. Together, these features recreate the setting of a traditional Okinawan farmhouse far more completely than a single surviving building could.

Shisa and the Traditional Red-Tiled Roof

A pair of shisa, traditional Okinawan guardian figures, sit on the roof as protective symbols. The bright red roof tiles are firmly held together with white plaster, creating the distinctive appearance associated with traditional Okinawan architecture.

Interestingly, the roof was originally covered with bamboo tiles before the Meiji era. During the Ryukyu Kingdom period, tiled roofs were generally restricted to the samurai and upper classes. As the Nakamura family belonged to the farming class, the use of traditional red tiles became possible only later, around the middle of the Meiji period.

This detail illustrates the social structure of the Ryukyu Kingdom as well as the changing status of the Nakamura family over the centuries.

The Nakamura Family and Their History

The ancestors of the Nakamura family belonged to the Ga clan, a wealthy farming family associated with the history of Nakagusuku.

In 1440, when the Ryukyuan official and lord Gosamaru moved from Yomitan to Nakagusuku Castle on the orders of the royal government in Shuri, members of the family are said to have moved with him and established their residence nearby.

After Gosamaru was defeated by Amawari, the family experienced a difficult period. By around 1720, however, the family had regained its position and one of its members was appointed a jitōdai, a local administrative official whose role was broadly comparable to that of a village headman in mainland Japan.

The present residence reflects the family’s prosperity during this later period and provides valuable insight into the lives of Okinawa’s rural elite.

Preserved After the Battle of Okinawa

The Nakamura Residence is particularly important because it survived the devastation of World War II and the Battle of Okinawa. Many historic buildings throughout Okinawa were destroyed during the war, making surviving traditional residences especially valuable.

In 1956, the residence was designated an Important Cultural Property by the Ryukyu Government. Following Okinawa’s return to Japan, it was designated a National Important Cultural Property on May 15, 1972, the day Okinawa was officially returned to Japanese administration.

The designation covers the main house, including the Ufuyā and Tungwā, the Ashagi, the Takakura, the Mēnu-yā, and the Fūru. The surrounding residential land was additionally designated in 1981, while two stone walls and the hinpun were designated as associated structures.

Traditional Materials and Craftsmanship

The main house is believed to date from the middle of the 18th century. Although its design incorporates elements of traditional Japanese architecture from earlier periods, it also demonstrates distinctive Okinawan construction techniques.

Valuable local timber, including inu-maki and mokkoku, was used in the construction. These trees were considered high-quality building materials and contributed to the durability and character of the residence.

The combination of carefully selected timber, Ryukyu limestone walls, protective fukugi trees, heavy tiled roofs, and extended eaves reflects generations of knowledge about how to build comfortable and durable homes in Okinawa’s hot, rainy, and typhoon-prone climate.

A Glimpse into Everyday Life in Old Okinawa

Unlike a castle or royal residence, the Nakamura Residence tells the story of ordinary life from a different perspective. Its kitchens, storehouses, animal facilities, well, walls, and living spaces show how a prosperous farming household functioned from day to day.

Walking through the property, visitors can see how architecture, agriculture, family life, social status, and Okinawa’s natural environment were closely connected.

Visit Together with Nakagusuku Castle

The Nakamura Residence is located only about a five-minute walk from the Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, making the two historic sites an excellent combination for visitors interested in Okinawa’s past.

While Nakagusuku Castle reveals the political and military history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Nakamura Residence offers a more intimate view of the people who lived and worked within that society.

For travelers seeking to understand the history and culture of Okinawa beyond its beaches and resorts, this beautifully preserved traditional residence provides an authentic and fascinating window into the everyday world of the Ryukyu Kingdom.