2025·R7.8.9 This is my first visit, during the Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival. It was designated an Esashi Town tangible cultural property on 1981·S56.7.14, and restoration was completed in fiscal 1986·S61, after which it opened to the public. The villa built from the late Edo period into the Meiji era by the Sekikawa family, wealthy Esashi merchants who succeeded as Kitamaebune shipowners & Matsumae domain officials, survives along with a Japanese garden created around the same time. Originally from “Sekikawa-go” in Kubiki District, Echigo Province (not Sekikawa Village next to Murakami in Kaetsu, but Sekikawa in Myoko Kogen, Myoko City, Joetsu), the first Sekikawa Yozaemon moved to the Matsumae domain’s castle town of Matsumae (Fukuyama castle town) during the Tenpo era (1681~1684年). He later moved to Esashi, operating a sake brewery and shipping agency, and the family achieved particular success as Kitamaebune shipowners from the late Edo period into the Meiji era. After moving to Esashi, they were entrusted by the Matsumae domain with “Okinokuchi duties (simply put, an office managing the port).” Alongside their success as merchants, they contributed to modern town development by investing their personal wealth in modernizing Esashi Port (various works such as installing breakwaters) and building schools and hospitals. The villa built by the family’s 8th head, Sekikawa Heishiro, is this “旧関川家別荘,” and their main residence at the time was apparently in what is now the “いにしえ街道” area. As the facility’s name suggests, the architecture is the main focus, but the roughly 10,600㎡ garden (park) surrounding the main house, earthen storehouse, and annex (a building resembling a nagayamon gate) also dates from that period. As befitted wealthy merchants, some family heads were active in cultural pursuits. The 6th Sekikawa Yozaemon (not the first one!) was known as a haiku poet under the name “砂山,” while the aforementioned 8th head, Sekikawa Heishiro, used “蓼窓庵一鼎,” “蓼窓,” and “一鼎.” The villa’s main house was named “蓼窓庵,” and his calligraphy still hangs inside today. The tokonoma also contains calligraphy by Matsumae Akihiro, the 10th lord of the Matsumae domain. Opening hours are 9~17, open every day during 4~10 and closed during 11~3, with adult admission costing 100円. However, a “combined admission ticket” for ① this 旧関川家別荘 (only on opening days = only during 4~10), ② 旧中村家住宅, and ③ 旧檜山爾志郡役所 (Esashi Town Local History Museum) lets you visit all 3 affordably for 500円. This combined ticket does not require you to visit everything on the same day, so I think it is great for staying in Esashi and taking your time exploring (while many municipalities restrict tickets to the same day, Esashi’s “use on another day OK” is a thoughtful and helpful touch 😚).

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From Inishie Kaido in central Esashi, head toward Assabu and continue straight for a while without joining the national highway; the wooden house is on the left. The Former Sekikawa Family Villa is a historic building constructed in the late Edo period and is now an Esashi Town tangible cultural property. When paying admission at reception, I was advised that a combined ticket including 2 other places was a better deal, so I bought it. After entering, the receptionist explained the building’s outline before the visit. It consists of a storehouse displaying old furnishings and the main house.

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Apparently, this used to be a villa belonging to an Esashi merchant family. I entered with the combined admission ticket. First, a staff member briefly explains the villa’s background. Furnishings and other items are displayed in the storehouse. The main house has a series of Japanese-style rooms that evoke its prosperous days. The garden is apparently lovely too, but unfortunately construction work was underway when I visited.

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Honestly, this place alone does not offer that much to see, but I recommend starting here, buying the 500円 combined ticket for 3 sites, then visiting the Former Nakamura Family Residence → Former Hiyama Erishi District Office (Esashi Town Local History Museum). I casually searched for things to see in Esashi, learned about the combined ticket for 3 sites, and ended up enjoying it.

This used to be an Esashi merchant’s villa. The exterior looks old. Inside, purchases from the days when a wealthy merchant lived here and the living room remain. There is a park next door.

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