This is a machiya (traditional townhouse) architecture built by Nishida Isaburo, who studied under the fourth Mizuma Sagami in 1907.

Beams in the open-ceiling dirt floor space were processed with an advanced technique to accentuate the beauty of the wood. The orderly structure of struts and beams around the central pillar draws visitors’ attention. The grains of wooden pillars and of kagamido (wood panel doors) are accentuated by cleverly taking in sunlight from the high window. Based on the tradition, the overall structure demonstrates simple beauty.

While the Kusakabe family’s residence is considered a masculine building, the Yoshijima family’s residence is said to exude feminine beauty and sensitivity in every inch of the building.

Among machiya architecture in Takayama, Yoshijima family’s residence is considered to be particularly excellent, and was designated as a national important cultural property. The kannon-do (hall devoted to Kannon) of Seihou-ji Temple in the Kokufu region was also the work of Nishida Isaburo.