Nakamura House is a traditional farmhouse built between the late Edo period and the Meiji era.
Having survived war and destruction to the present day, it is an extremely valuable historical site and has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
While based on traditional Japanese architectural styles, the house also incorporates distinctive Okinawan features, such as the “Furu,” a combined pigsty and toilet unique to Okinawa, and the “Himpun,” a privacy wall influenced by Chinese architectural traditions.
The roof was originally thatched with bamboo, but during the Meiji period it was replaced with Okinawa’s characteristic red roof tiles.
This change reflected the fact that during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, members of the farming class, such as the Nakamura family, were not permitted to use tiled roofs.
Because religious beliefs, customs, and daily life in Okinawa differed greatly from those of mainland Japan, Nakamura House remains an important cultural property for understanding the lifestyle of Okinawan farmers of that time.
The surrounding Oshiro district is now known as a quiet residential area ideal for walking. Flowers and greenery line the streets, unglazed ceramic sculptures can be seen throughout the neighborhood, and traditional wells known as “ka” still remain here and there.