Kamihaga Residence — Attraction in Uchiko

This is the residence of the Kamihaga family, which once prospered as the largest wax production company in the country. The entrance fee is 500 yen, or 900 yen if combined with other exhibition halls, but it’s well worth it, as the process of wax production and the lives of the workers at the time are clearly displayed using dioramas. It is located within the Uchiko Preservation District, and a guide provides an explanation at the beginning.

Highlights include the thick main pillar that runs from the first to the third floor, the multiple individual restrooms in one location to accommodate the large number of workers, the very large kitchen, the custom-made tiled roof, and the impressive garden.

The property is still privately owned by the Haga family, but the building is managed by the city. Japan experiences frequent earthquakes, but seismic retrofitting has already been done, and steel frames have been installed in places not visible to visitors, such as the back of closets in each room.

Not only the streets but also the buildings have been preserved just as they were in old Japan. According to the guide, there are more foreign visitors than...

A stunning office building, residence and wax factory as well as a storehouse converted into a cage - all perfectly and tastefully restored even with reinforcement to comply with earthquake resistance regulation. So many great examples not only of the interesting wax making process & history, but also traditional Japanese carpentry and building design. It's also an interesting look back at how a wealthy family lived in a beautiful house built around a central garden. There are so few examples like this open to the public in Japan. The English information and signage is also pretty good. The staff are helpful &...

Well, this is another piece of history. The Kamigahara family became rich by manufacturing wax during the early 20th century. You will find the old infrastructures that were used for manufacturing wax. The spacious house is another symbol of the money they amassed from wax business. Nothing big, but as there are not much to see here, so drop by there to spend some time learning the...