{"id":16311,"date":"2017-07-18T15:47:21","date_gmt":"2017-07-18T06:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp\/modules\/xpressme\/?p=16311"},"modified":"2018-03-20T10:13:30","modified_gmt":"2018-03-20T01:13:30","slug":"baba-family-residence-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Baba Family Residence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Baba\u2019s Family Residence is an immaculately preserved late-Edo period home of wealthy farmers. This estate is tucked into a pocket of farmland, giving the farm a surreal view of green fields and mountains from the front gate of the property. As a lover of history, there was a lot more here than I was expecting!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YJA-85EUTrg?rel=0&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;hl=en\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>There isn\u2019t much English information about this residence online. I was able to gather some information from knowledgeable people before my visit. I was also lucky enough to arrange a tour by the property\u2019s curator, which isn\u2019t normally done.<\/p>\n<p>My research brought up a lot of important details for understanding and appreciating the residence that I certainly would have missed if I\u2019d simply gone there after a couple of Google searches.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16326\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16326\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16326\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/House-and-Garden-Gate-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The Baba Family Residence.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16326\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Baba Family Residence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Baba family descends from the relative of a vassal who served under the famous Japanese warrior, Takeda Shingen. In one of the front rooms, you can see a painting with Takeda at the top and some of the Baba descendants under him.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16333\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16333\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16333\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Takeda-Baba-Family-painting-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Takeda stands at the top of a painting of his descendants.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16333\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Takeda stands at the top of a painting of his descendants.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A line of 16 Babas extend from the 16th century through today. It was the 12th Baba, Gizaemon, who built most of the buildings you\u2019ll find when visiting. The 16th and current Baba, Taro, donate much of the property to the city of Matsumoto in 1992. Matsumoto City\u2019s renovation efforts go a long way toward making this such an amazing destination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was a surprising number of activities that kept me engaged much longer than I was expecting! Some details could be easy to miss, so let me be your tour guide!<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16321\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16321\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16321\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Front-of-Residence-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The walkway from the street, leading to the inner-gate.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16321\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The walkway from the street, leading to the inner-gate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Surroundings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Riding my bicycle set a relaxing, peaceful mood for my visit. The 40 minute bike trip from Matsumoto Station to the residence winds through small neighborhoods and patches of farmland. The front of the entrance is opposite wide open fields, making the property really pop. There\u2019s a manicured space between the street and the gate with a path, trees, and flowers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I parked my bike out front and wandered the front garden area before entering the inner-gate. At 10 in the morning, I was the only visitor. This enhanced the beauty of the experience after my relaxing bicycle ride.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16325\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16325\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16325\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Gate-Looking-out-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The inner-gate, looking out toward farmland.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16325\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The inner-gate, looking out toward farmland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Inner-Gate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Legend has it that the impressive inner-gate was built to welcome the lord of Takashima Castle, in neighboring Suwa. Being close to the family, the lord was known to visit the property. The family\u2019s wealth when the buildings were constructed in the 1850s and their ongoing friendship with the castle lord certainly make this story plausible.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16319\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16319\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16319\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Entrance-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"View of the house through the mouth of the inner-gate.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16319\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View of the house through the mouth of the inner-gate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>The Home<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; After entering the gate, I walked straight to the office to begin my tour of the home. The first room is an open area where you should take your shoes off before continuing deeper into the home. In this area, you\u2019ll already see historic photos, art, and model recreations. Almost all of the home is open for visitors. You\u2019re allowed to explore the Lord\u2019s Entrance, the lord\u2019s room (and lord\u2019s bathroom!), the master baba\u2019s room, common rooms, the kitchen, one of the upstairs areas, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It should be obvious which stairs you are allowed to go up because there will be no ropes or blockades. Upstairs is where the house caretaker lived. I enjoyed looking out over the property from the upper windows. The caretaker had a clear view of everyone coming and going through the front gate. There\u2019s also a beautiful painting of the Baba home on display.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16328\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16328\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16328\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Kitchen-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The welcoming kitchen made me hungry.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16328\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The welcoming kitchen made me hungry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>The Kitchen<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The kitchen has the traditional cooking pit surrounded by mats, a cooking stove, a sink, and lots of photos, displays, and decorations. The pot over the cooking pit is suspended by a really cool device that allows the pod to be easily raised and lowered (I should have taken a picture of it!). The kitchen ceiling is high, using the traditional Japanese method of opening windows or the roof vent to get rid of smoke. This gives the kitchen an open, welcoming feel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve seen a few of these cooking areas in old Japanese homes, but I found this one particularly welcoming. It made me want to sit and eat with friends in a circle around a pot of delicious food!<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16329\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16329\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16329\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Lords-Entrance-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The entrance reserved for the visiting lord of Takeshima Castle\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16329\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The entrance reserved for the visiting lord of Takashima Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>The Lord\u2019s Entrance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The visiting lord of Takashima Castle didn\u2019t enter through the same door as other visitors. You\u2019ll find the lord\u2019s ornate entrance positioned off the courtyard in line with the inner-gate. The room he entered would be closed off to others when he arrived. In this room, the head Baba and the lord would commune. Directly off of this room, toward the garden, you\u2019ll find the room where the lord slept. This is the room where you\u2019ll find the painting of Takeda and his descendants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This area made my imagination run wild. It made me think of the first episode of Game of Thrones where King Robert was talking to Lord Stark Winterfell. I kept wondering what kind of political intrigue was discussed behind closed doors. What sorts of real-life historical dramas could have been set in this home?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16324\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16324\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16324\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Gate-from-lords-entrance-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"View of the inner-gate from the Lord's Entrance.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16324\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View of the inner-gate from the Lord&#8217;s Entrance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Bathroom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Just off of the lord\u2019s room, you\u2019ll find a bathroom! I\u2019ve visited quite a few old Japanese homes and I\u2019d never seen a bathroom built inside a home! There is a wooden sink, a urinal, and a small room with a hole to squat over. Above the sink, you\u2019ll find holes where water would have been piped down. The sink had a slight slope toward a hole in the wall that drained outside. I hope you\u2019re as excited as I am about this (rudimentary, but highly functional) toilet area! But\u2026 maybe it\u2019s just me&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16322\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16322\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16322\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Garden-from-inside-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"View of the garden from inside the home.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16322\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View of the garden from inside the home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>The Garden<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The gate to the most beautiful garden on the property is closed off to the public. But, don\u2019t worry! The Garden is in full display from the home itself! The garden has a series of ponds, connected by a small creek. I enjoyed sitting on the edge of the home and soaking up the greenery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Storehouse<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; There\u2019s a storehouse directly behind the home that\u2019s open to the public and that I was pretty excited about. I\u2019ve seen so many of these storehouses along Nakamachi Street in downtown Matsumoto, but I\u2019d never been able to explore one in its original condition! The storehouse was set up to showcase a few artifacts related to the storehouse and the home\u2019s architecture. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the upstairs of the storehouse, you\u2019ll see photos and luggage of a Baba who had travelled the world as a diplomat in the early 20th century. I love exploring this Baba\u2019s adventures through the photos on display!<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16320\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16320\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16320\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Farm-Equipment-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Farm equipment on display.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16320\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Farm equipment on display.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Farm Equipment Showcase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; In the courtyard in front of the home, you\u2019ll find a few other buildings to explore, including one dedicated to showing the Babas\u2019 retired farm equipment. There are saws, sickles, carts, and all sorts contraptions I couldn\u2019t identify. My favorite part were the old photos of the Babas\u2019 fields being worked. These photos reminded me of visiting my ancestors\u2019 farms back in western Washington, USA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Silk Weaving Machines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Another building off the front courtyard showcases silk weaving equipment. The family raised silkworms in layered beds that you can see on display. You can see the many machines used to process the silk.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16331\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16331\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16331\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Mapofneolithicvillage-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Neolithic settlement, dating thousands of years before the Babas.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Neolithic settlement, dating thousands of years before the Babas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Neolithic Artifacts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The last building off the courtyard was my favorite. This was surprising because I hadn\u2019t read anything about this during my research of the property! Apparently, the Baba Family Residence is on the site of Neolithic community, dating back thousands of years. You can see many artifacts excavated from the area. There are tools, arrowheads, 4,000 year old pots, and lots of photos of the excavated homes. There\u2019s even a model recreation of what the homes looked like at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My favorite artifact was the 3,000 year old stone figure. It\u2019s carved on a flat stone, about the size of a doll. It\u2019s cracked in half, but the carved features are still easy to identify.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16332\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16332\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16332\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/StoneFigure-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Stone Figure on display.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16332\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stone Figure on display.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I knew there would be lots of history at the Baba Family Residence, but the Neolithic artifacts really impressed me! I can\u2019t believe this isn\u2019t promoted more!<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16317\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16317\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16317\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Baba-Family-Shrine-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Baba family shrine, sitting in front of an 800 year old tree.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16317\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Baba family shrine, sitting in front of an 800 year old tree.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Baba Family Shrine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; On your way out of the property, there\u2019s still one more stop! The Baba family\u2019s shrine is in the middle of a batch of trees in front of the property. It\u2019s hard to miss because the trees are an island in the middle of flat farmland. The shrine is a traditional shrine with a Shinto gate and a little enclosed shrine building. The key feature is the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">800 year old tree<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> directly behind it! The trunk is massive!<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16334\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16334\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-16334\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/To-the-Office-590x332.jpg?resize=590%2C332&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Walkway to the office.\" width=\"590\" height=\"332\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16334\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Walkway to the office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, the Baba Family Residence has a lot more to offer than you might expect. There were a few pamphlets in English, but expect to be on your own after paying the entrance fee. Although it has such a small presence online, it has jumped high on my list of places I recommend tourists visit. It\u2019s a great place to explore, relax, and soak up the beauty &#8211; especially if the weather is clear enough for a bike ride.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For information on opening times, admission fees, etc., please see <a href=\"http:\/\/welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp\/contents03+index.id+18.htm\">the Baba Family Residence page<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-official sd-sharing\"><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-facebook\"><div class=\"fb-share-button\" data-href=\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\" data-layout=\"button_count\"><\/div><\/li><li class=\"share-twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-url=\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\" data-text=\"Baba Family Residence\"  >Tweet<\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-end\"><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Baba\u2019s Family Residence is an immaculately preserved late-Edo period home of wealthy farmers. This estate is tucked into a pocket of farmland, giving the farm a surreal view of green fields and mountains from the front gate of the property. As a lover of history, there was a lot more here than I was expecting! There isn\u2019t much English information about this residence online. I was able to gather some information from knowledgeable people before my visit. I was also lucky enough to arrange a tour by the property\u2019s curator, which isn\u2019t normally done. My research brought up a lot of important details for understanding and appreciating the residence that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-official sd-sharing\"><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-facebook\"><div class=\"fb-share-button\" data-href=\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\" data-layout=\"button_count\"><\/div><\/li><li class=\"share-twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-url=\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\" data-text=\"Baba Family Residence\"  >Tweet<\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-end\"><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":16326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"inline_featured_image":false,"spay_email":""},"categories":[2,2354,2357],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/House-and-Garden-Gate-1.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.9.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Baba Family Residence | Visit Matsumoto<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Baba\u2019s Family Residence is an immaculately preserved late-Edo period home of wealthy farmers. This estate is tucked into a pocket of farmland, giving the\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Baba Family Residence | Visit Matsumoto\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Baba\u2019s Family Residence is an immaculately preserved late-Edo period home of wealthy farmers. This estate is tucked into a pocket of farmland, giving the\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Visit Matsumoto\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/welcomematsumoto\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-07-18T06:47:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2018-03-20T01:13:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/House-and-Garden-Gate-1.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@MatsumotoExper1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"9 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/zh-hant\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/zh-hant\/\",\"name\":\"Visit Matsumoto\",\"description\":\"The Official Travel Guide of Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/zh-hant\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/House-and-Garden-Gate-1.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"The Baba Family Residence.\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\",\"name\":\"Baba Family Residence | Visit Matsumoto\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/zh-hant\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2017-07-18T06:47:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2018-03-20T01:13:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/zh-hant\/#\/schema\/person\/7cfb46209c55058b6753f6bf6b39299a\"},\"description\":\"Baba\\u2019s Family Residence is an immaculately preserved late-Edo period home of wealthy farmers. This estate is tucked into a pocket of farmland, giving the\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/baba-family-residence-2\/\",\"name\":\"Baba Family Residence\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/zh-hant\/#\/schema\/person\/7cfb46209c55058b6753f6bf6b39299a\",\"name\":\"Sylvain Danjaume\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/zh-hant\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/3c5d3ccc3c05bf1784a9f87764a04b51.jpeg?fit=96%2C96\",\"caption\":\"Sylvain Danjaume\"},\"description\":\"Originaire des Hautes-Alpes, je suis arriv\\u00e9 \\u00e0 Matsumoto o\\u00f9 j'y ai d\\u00e9couvert un environnement me rappelant mes Alpes natales. Me sentant ici comme chez moi, je souhaite faire d\\u00e9couvrir la ville, sa vie quotidenne, sa gastronomie, sa culture et sa belle nature environnante au plus grand nombre.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/welcome-matsumoto.com\/fr\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/welcomematsumoto\/\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/welcomematsumoto\/\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MatsumotoExper1\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCAdiIEHOfuy0bo8sYjW1vdA\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":265211,"url":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/discovering-the-temples-shrines-of-metoba-part-two-chosho-ji\/","url_meta":{"origin":16311,"position":0},"title":"Discovering the Temples &amp; Shrines of Metoba - Part Two: Chosho-ji","date":"2019.6.25","format":false,"excerpt":"Rinshoji, the first of my Metoba temple discoveries, I found quite by accident. The second I had to search for. Not that it was impossible. But you do have to keep your eyes peeled. The long, depressing alleyway leading to the grounds seems more suited to a Kurosawa flick than\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;History&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/PANO_20190618_132442-300x91.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16040,"url":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/matsumoto-scale-museum-on-nakamachi-street\/","url_meta":{"origin":16311,"position":1},"title":"Matsumoto Scale Museum on Nakamachi Street","date":"2017.5.16","format":false,"excerpt":"If you're walking up Nakamachi Street while you're in Matsumoto, there's a quirky little museum dedicated to all sorts of scales and weights that is fun to poke around in. The silkworm cocoon scales were especially interesting! The museum is made up of three separate buildings, but all together it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;History&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/scales-and-weights-museum_34234478112_o-590x393-1-1.jpg?fit=590%2C393&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1307,"url":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/sightseeing\/free-amazake-%e7%94%98%e9%85%92-service-on-april-3rd\/","url_meta":{"origin":16311,"position":2},"title":"Free \"Amazake (\u7518\u9152)\" service on April 3rd","date":"2013.3.30","format":false,"excerpt":"Amazake is a traditional sweet non- alcohol drink made from fermented rice. \u00a0Japanese people have been fond of \"Amazake (\u7518\u9152\uff09\" for a very\u00a0very long time. \u00a0The first record of \"Amazake\" was found in \"Nihon Shoki (\u65e5\u672c\u66f8\u8a18)\" , the second oldest history book written about \uff11\uff0c\uff13\uff10\uff10\u00a0years ago. \u00a0 Since then \"Amazake\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sightseeing&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/a0027_000257_m-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16181,"url":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/nature\/snow-walls-on-mt-norikuradake\/","url_meta":{"origin":16311,"position":3},"title":"Snow Walls on Mt. Norikuradake","date":"2017.6.16","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been to Norikura a few times already, but last weekend was my first time at the top of Mt. Norikuradake, and WOW - it was some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. In late spring and early summer, there's still a lot of snow left around the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nature&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/35117638171_9d06b05fb2_k-590x393-1-1.jpg?fit=590%2C393&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":264008,"url":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/matsumotos-side-streets-the-magic-in-between\/","url_meta":{"origin":16311,"position":4},"title":"Discovering the Temples &amp; Shrines of Metoba \u2013 Part One: Rinsho-ji","date":"2019.6.15","format":false,"excerpt":"-- Note: This post was originally written as a stand-alone piece on exploring Matsumoto's back streets. Following my own advice I returned to the area to poke around some more - and made a few new and excellent discoveries. This post is now Part One of a series on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;History&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/banner-300x110.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17935,"url":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/culture-art\/the-after-new-years-sankuro-fire-festival\/","url_meta":{"origin":16311,"position":5},"title":"The After-New-Year's Sankuro Fire Festival","date":"2018.1.17","format":false,"excerpt":"About a week after New Year's in Matsumoto as I was heading to the local vegetable market, I saw what looked to be a giant, several-meter-high Christmas tree has suddenly appeared on an empty lot in my neighborhood. For a second, I couldn't believe my eyes; last time I checked,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Culture Art&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/39024306734_4071f007d5_z-590x394-1.jpg?fit=590%2C394&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16311"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16311"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84933,"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16311\/revisions\/84933"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}