Would you recognize a "Tangible Folk-Cultural Property" if you saw one? If you were walking through a "Traditional Construction Preservation Area," would you know?
If you went to Uchiko, hidden in the green folds of Ehime Prefecture, west Shikoku, you almost certainly would, as the village is home to such heritage treasures of all kinds. Almost every building in the handsome Yokaichi district, and every craft carried out there, is a survivor from an earlier age.
Two hundred years ago, this now-quiet community of just 12,000 was a thriving mercantile center. Among its industrious inhabitants, some amassed fortunes, and the elegant houses they built still stand. Principal among these are the Hon-Haga residence, and just across the road the even more spacious Kami-Haga complex, constructed by a branch family that rivaled its main house in prosperity.