A Historic Thatched-Roof Kominka with a Renovated Tea Room and Open Garden in Niigata
This unique property is a historic kominka (old folk house) built in the late Edo period, originally belonging to a family of sake brewers. For 150 years, it was never left vacant. The current owners acquired it 25 years ago as a retirement project, choosing it from dozens of candidates to fulfill their dream of living in a rural thatched-roof house. Inspired by open gardens seen during a trip to New Zealand and to support the wife's tea ceremony classes, they dedicated themselves to the garden. For most of the year, from March to December, one of them lived here alone, cultivating a garden overflowing with wildflowers, plants, and trees that changes with the seasons. This effort led to the garden being featured in the Niigata Nippo magazine 'CARREL' in June 2019 as part of the local open garden activities.
The house features a specially renovated tea room, modeled after the Tōin-seki of the Urasenke school. Key architectural points include the Tokobashira (alcove post) made of black pine with its bark intact, a 4.5-tatami mat space, high ceilings, distinctive walls, shoji screens, a portable irori hearth with chairs and a table, a two-ken long zelkova beam, and six large keyaki (zelkova) pillars measuring 24cm square. The property is sold in its current condition, including a note that the bath boiler was damaged in the Chuetsu earthquake and was not repaired as the solo resident preferred using nearby hot springs. Modern utilities were installed, with a flush toilet and connection to the main sewer line completed in 2002.
The land is a 659m² plot, with the wooden, thatched-roof (covered with galvanized iron) building spanning three stories including the attic. The total floor area is approximately 182.3m², comprising 157.8m² on the first floor and 24.49m² on the second. The property is offered at a hope price of 1.3 million yen, with the transaction to be conducted based on its current state and using publicly registered land dimensions.
Located in Niigata's Takayanagi area of Kashiwazaki City, the region is known for its natural beauty and seasonal activities. An interesting local fact is that Kashiwazaki is home to the largest nuclear power plant in the world by net electrical power rating. The area offers excellent access to outdoor recreation, with the local 'Jon-nobi Village' hot spring facility just a 5-minute drive away, providing a perfect spot for relaxation after a day enjoying the cultivated garden.
