Former Mekada Residence

The mid-18th century home of a samurai.

The Former Mekada Residence, which is nationally designated as an Important Cultural Property, is a rare remaining example of a middle-class samurai’s residence, as seen in the mid-18th century.
The roofing is constructed in a Nihira-buki style with two different types of tile placed alternately, and the distinctly-shaped pantiles with interlocking crosspieces at both edges are called Ryo-Sode-Gawara, a type of local tile unique to the Iwakuni region. These are also known as “Iwakuni Tiles”.
The residence has two stories, which is rare for a samurai’s home, and may have been constructed in anticipation of the Nishiki River overflowing and flooding into the Yokoyama District. Among the building’s other distinctive features, the street-facing side of the house (entrance side) does not have a second-floor window. The purpose of this was to ensure that the house’s occupant would not be able to look down on any higher-ranking samurai who passed by on the street.