SaitamaLeisure

Former Bando Family Residence, Minuma Kurashikku-kan

About this spot

This facility in Minuma Ward, Saitama City is a restoration of the residence of the Bando family, village headmen in the Edo period. Step inside the large thatched-roof house and children are struck by the dimness and the cool air of the earthen-floored area. On days when a fire is lit in the sunken hearth, the smell of smoke fills the rooms and you feel old daily life with your whole body, in a way photographs cannot convey. The form of a farmhouse that grew alongside the development of the Minuma paddy fields survives here intact, making it an unbeatable place to learn the history of this area. Admission is free, and seasonal events are held.

Tips

Check the official Saitama City website for the days when a fire is lit in the sunken hearth and for event schedules, and your visit will be all the more enjoyable. You take your shoes off to enter the building, so shoes that slip on and off easily make things smoother. There are closed days, so check before fixing your date.