Can I explore the entire property?

Visitors can access the earthen floor entrance and kitchen areas of the main house, plus the exhibition room in one of the storehouses. The property includes the tower gate, stone walls, garden with suikinkutsu, and the exterior of three storehouses and servants' quarters.

Is the Hirokane Residence near other attractions?

The residence is approximately 2.5 kilometers south of Fukiya Furusato Village, a preserved bengara mining town. The Fukiya Furusato Village Pass covers both areas plus the Fukiya Folk Museum and other historic sites, making it convenient to visit multiple attractions in one trip.

How do I get there from Takahashi Station?

Take a bus bound for Fukiya from JR Bitchu-Takahashi Station. The residence is approximately 2.5 kilometers south of Fukiya Furusato Village. Bus services are limited, so check schedules in advance. Parking is available for approximately 35 vehicles.

How much does admission cost?

Adult admission is 400 yen and children (elementary and junior high school students) pay 200 yen. The Fukiya Furusato Village Pass costs 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children, providing access to multiple sites including the Hirokane Residence and Fukiya Folk Museum.

Hirokane Residence

4 (519)Historical LandmarkTourist AttractionHistorical PlaceMuseumPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

The Hirokane Residence in Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, stands as a remarkable example of the wealth accumulated during Japan's late Edo period through copper mining and industrial production. Built in 1810 by the second generation of the Hirokane family, this historic estate served as the home of the village headman of Onoro, who amassed considerable fortune by operating the Koizumi Copper Mine and manufacturing roha (iron sulfate), a key raw material for producing bengara red pigment. The Hirokane family worked alongside other prominent local families in the bengara industry, mining iron sulfide ore and producing roha that was sent to bengara kilns in nearby Fukiya.

The residence is renowned for its impressive architecture that resembles a mountain castle. The estate features imposing stone walls comparable to those found at Japanese castles, a two-story tower gate built in the late Edo period, the main house with two stories, three storehouses, and a row house containing servants' quarters, stables, and farm buildings. The property sits dramatically atop a hill in the Nakano area, creating a commanding presence that reflects the family's substantial wealth and status. The garden includes a suikinkutsu, a traditional water fountain that produces pleasant sounds when water is dropped on it.

Visitors to the residence can explore the earthen floor entrance and kitchen areas of the main house, which preserve elements of daily life from the Edo period including the traditional irori (hearth). Part of the storehouse functions as an exhibition room displaying materials related to the Hirokane family history. The site gained additional fame as the filming location for "The Village of Eight Tombs" (Yatsuhakamura), a mystery story by novelist Seishi Yokomizo that was adapted into films by directors Yoshitaro Nomura in 1977 and Kon Ichikawa in 1996, as well as television series. The residence is managed by Okayama Prefecture and hosts an annual "Hana-Meguri" event each May, where the estate is decorated with elaborate flower arrangements.

The residence is located approximately 2.5 kilometers south of Fukiya Furusato Village. From JR Bitchu-Takahashi Station, visitors can take a bus bound for Fukiya to reach the area, though bus services are limited and should be checked in advance. The site offers parking for approximately 35 vehicles. Admission costs 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Visitors can purchase the Fukiya Furusato Village Pass for 1,000 yen (500 yen for children), which provides combined access to multiple attractions including the Hirokane Residence, Fukiya Folk Museum, and other historic sites in the region.

What other travelers are saying about Hirokane Residence

Impressive old house with a massive stone wall almost like a castle.

Warren Richards

Nov 27, 2023

Interesting look at a how a rich merchant's house.

This is the residence of Hirokane, a village headman who amassed a vast fortune in the late Edo period through the management of the Koizumi Copper Mine and the production of bengala iron oxide. The house was built on top of an existing rocky mountain, and the carved-out rock forms the stone walls. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1984, and in 2020 became a component cultural property of the Japan Heritage Site. It is also famous as a filming location for the films "The Village of Eight Graves" and "Moeyo Ken," and its luxurious atmosphere is popular with tourists. There are also some mysterious parts, such as a mysterious symbol carved into the stone wall on the floor of the water pump at the back, so it may be interesting to try to guess what they are.

This is the Hirokane residence in Fukiya Furusato Village. It uses fine salt-pan roofing tiles. It is also known as the filming location for the movie The Village of Eight Graves.

A huge mansion located relatively close to Fukiya Furusato Village. I have been to this place before. My first impression was that it was simply huge. Its size is reminiscent of a castle, and it's clear that the Hirokane family was extremely wealthy at the time. This place is also known as a famous filming location. It has appeared several times as the Tajimi family home in the film The Village of Eight Graves, and any Eight Graves fan will recognize it at a glance. I had already seen the interior of the Hirokane mansion on my last visit, so I passed on it this time, but I would recommend that first-time visitors take a look around.