Registration Date：2008.04.18
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The former Ireya house is an old house on Izena Island that was dismantled, transported by boat, and restored. The house is characterized by a split-level structure with a kitchen attached to the main house. The roof has holes called "kuukimi," which are designed to allow heat and smoke from the kettle earth to escape from the attic. In addition, there is a rain screen to prevent strong sunlight and side rain from entering the house. There are many more, so let's look for them.
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Description
The Former Irei Residence Main Building is a house that was built during the late Meiji Era (1868-1912) in the Aza-Izena district of Izena Village, Okinawa Prefecture. The building is constructed of wood using a design called "Nuchijaa" (in which holes for joints are drilled in pillars and wedges are used to secure beam running through the hole) and traditional red roof tiles secured with stucco as well as a statue of a “Shisaa” (mythical lion-like creature). The layout consists of, from the front right: “ichiban-za”(a guest room), “ niban-za”(an altar room), a living room, and a kitchen, along with two back rooms. The floor plan is spacious and there are also “amahaji”(eaves) on the south and east sides. The Irei family was an old family that was commonly called "Joyakuyaa", derived from the fact that their ancestors worked as "Joyaku" (assistants' officials) at the Izena Village Office. At the time, the walls surrounding the mansion were made of uncut table coral limestone stones, with fukugi trees planted in between as a windbreak. This table coral is very valuable and can be also seen in stone wall surrounding the "Buku Buku"(Buku Buku means bubbles,or froth) Teahouse. Since its relocation, the building has been used as a Ryukyu indigo dyeing studio where demonstrations, sales, and hands-on workshops are available.
Okinawa was once an independent nation called the Ryukyu Kingdom. Its people traversed the seas and traded with other countries, adopting various cultures while developing a unique culture of their own. When you come here to Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town, you feel like you have taken a trip in time back to that bygone era. The streets are lined with beautiful old houses with red tile roofs, people in dazzling Ryukyu clothing pass by, and tropical flowers decorate the streets.
This is a place where you can step back in time and experience the Ryukyu Islands of long ago, with surroundings that include the houses and “Fuuru” ( pigsty & latrine) more than 100 years old that are registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties, buildings known as "Kami Ashagi" where community religious rituals are said to have once been performed, and traditional houses featuring masonry that uses techniques unique to Okinawa.
Cultural property information
【Opening hours】
9:00-17:30 (last admission 16:00)
【Closing day】
-
【Fee】
Adult: 2,000 yen, Child: 1,000 yen *Child is between the ages of 4 and 14; 15 and older are charged at the adult rate. Admission is every 20 minutes from Gyokusendo. Web advance tickets are available until the day before admission. On the day of admission, please purchase tickets directly at the Okinawa World ticket counter.
Back to cultural properties in Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture
