Edo-period Merchants and tales of influence – Inaba Honke

Step inside a 130-year-old mansion. Discover the untold story of the merchant family that financed the shogunate and protected the coast.

Why this tour?

Beyond the temples of Kyoto City lies the untold history of the coast. This is not just a building; it is a story of power, generosity, and survival. Walk the tatami rooms of the Inaba family, who rose from malt merchants to regional leaders.

Highlights:

• The Mansion: Explore the Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
• The Legend: Hear the tale of the Dragon Guardian of Kumihama Bay.
• Local Taste: Enjoy Bara-zushi or Botamochi, dishes born from the family’s tradition of feeding the community.
• Future Mailbox: Write a letter to your future self in the serene Japanese garden.

(Duration: Approx. 3 Hours | Start: 10:00 AM)

• 10:00 – Meet at Kumihama Station.
• 10:15 – Castle Town Walk: Stroll through the historic district untouched by mass tourism.
• 10:45 – Inaba Honke Mansion: Guided tour of the main house, storehouses, and museum.
• 11:30 – Lunch & Garden: Savor local specialties and relax in the inner garden.
• 12:15 – Future Mailbox Experience: A moment of reflection.
• 13:00 – Tour concludes at the station.

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What You’ll Experience

• A guided walk through Kumihama’s historic merchant district, where the Inaba family once shaped local finance, trade, and community life
• Stories of the Ina ba family’s rise, from malted‑rice brewers to coastal shipping magnates and shogunate financiers
• An in‑depth tour of the Inaba Honke mansion, a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property featuring Edo‑period merchant architecture
• Kumihama Bay’s dragon legends – timeless stories of the guardian dragon said to protect the town of Kumihama
• A visit to the Japanese garden and the Future Mailbox, offering a quiet moment for reflection and a letter to your future self
• A taste of local heritage cuisine such as bara‑zushi or bota‑mochi, dishes tied to the family’s history of generosity during times of hardship
• Emotional storytelling that connects you to the legacy of a family who blended wealth, political influence, and community care for over 400 years

Let’s Craft Your Journey It’s our honor to welcome you into one of Kyoto’s most storied merchant estates. If you’d like to personalize the experience, more time in the garden, a craft workshop, or a deeper historical focus, we’re happy to help shape the perfect visit.

Important Notes: This experience includes guided coordination and storytelling. Some optional activities, craft workshops, special tastings, or additional cultural experiences, may require separate fees not included in the base tour price. Guests cover these costs on-site. By booking, you acknowledge that these optional add‑ons are paid separately and are not grounds for refund or claim.

Experiences

A Living History The Inaba family descended from retainers of Oda Nobunaga. By 1735, they were managing shogunate funds and investing in the region’s railways. This tour explores how they used their wealth for public duty, mirroring the great merchant families of the Renaissance.

The “Future Mailbox” In the quiet of the garden stands the Time-Transcending Postbox (時空を超えるポスト). Here, you can write a letter to yourself or a loved one, to be delivered one, three, or five years in the future—a bridge between your journey today and your life tomorrow.

Culinary Heritage We serve Bara-zushi (scattered sushi) or Botamochi (sweet rice cakes). These are not just meals; they are symbols of the Inaba family’s generosity. During times of famine, the family opened their storehouses to feed the community, turning simple ingredients into a legacy of compassion.

Gosho Inaba Honke Architecture

It took five years to build and was completed in 1890. It is a two-story building with a gabled roof and shingled tile roof. The main part is 6.5 ken long and 7.5 ken wide, with rooms jutting out on all four sides.

The biggest highlight is the large open-ceiling space consisting of an earthen floor and a living room, which symbolizes the family’s lineage and economic power. The building was registered as a cultural property in January 2003 (a nationally registered tangible cultural property).

The Kumihama Dragon Tale

Long ago, Kumihama Bay was said to be watched over by a mysterious dragon spirit. The people believed the dragon lived beneath the calm waters, protecting the bay, the fishermen, and the merchants who traveled through the region.

One summer night, after days of heavy storms, the clouds suddenly opened and a brilliant column of light shone down onto the bay. From the water rose a majestic dragon, its scales shimmering like the moon on the sea. The villagers watched in awe as the dragon spiraled upward, climbing higher and higher until it disappeared into the heavens.

They believed the dragon had completed its role as guardian and ascended to become a celestial protector of Kumihama. Ever since, the bay has been known for its unusually calm waters and the deep sense of peace it brings to those who visit.

This legend is so beloved that the Inaba Merchant House even hosted a bamboo art installation inspired by the tale, “a dragon that rose out of Kumihama Bay and flew up to heaven”.

Bridal Basket 嫁入りかご (Yomeiri kago)

The Bridal Basket was used by the head of the Higashi Inaba family, an annex of the main Inaba family. The head of the Higashi Inaba family used the wedding basket to carry the bride.

Weddings were not private events but community visible affirmations of alliance and status. And this also suggests that even with the social hierarchy that even though the merchants are on the lower spectrum they reflect their display of status, propriety, and the family’s ability to uphold ritual obligations.

The Bridal basket was restored in April 2014

(The carrying pole has been shortened) 

Inaba Honke Exhibition

The treasure house, connected to the main house by a corridor, regularly hosts the Inaba family exhibition, showcasing the Inaba family with exhibits related to the two sons of the 13th head of the family, Ichiroemon, who died in battle shortly after getting married.