- Yanagawa Ohana | Guide to Ohana

Honkan Main Building

Built between 1910 and 1911, this building was constructed in the design favored at the time by wealthy families and aristocrats, in which a Western-style foyer led through to a traditional Japanese-style grand hall. This feature remains fully intact today.

Shotoen Garden (Nationally Designated Site of Beauty)

This traditional Japanese-style garden, which translates as "rippling pine garden", was created to resemble real life scenery at Matsushima in Sendai, a region in northern Japan. Each of the approximately 280 pine trees is between 200 and 300 years old. The enormous stone in front of the Ohiroma grand hall was formerly a stone pedestal on Yanagawa's castle tower. Every year between October and April, over 500 wild ducks migrating for the season rest briefly in Shotoen's pond, offering visitors a rare chance to view them at close range yet in a natural setting.

Seiyokan Annex

This building was constructed in 1911 as the new reception hall for the Tachibana estate. Even at the time, it had its own electricity generator to power imported luxury electric appliances such as chandelier lights. Today, original lampshades and other authentic features may be viewed exactly as they were then.

OHANA MUSEUM

This museum displays a rich variety of items that convey the history of the Tachibana family: from a suit of armor that once belonged to family ancestor and first feudal lord of Yanagawa, Muneshige Tachibana, to gold and silver lacquer dispatch boxes, cosmetic utensils and Noh theater costumes. The museum also houses a collection of elaborate Edo period dolls, which were loved by successive generations of young Tachibana heiresses. Such a collection is rarely seen even in Japan. Exhibits are rotated throughout the different seasons. A small selection of these treasures may be seen below.

Ohana Koji Shop

This specialty store offers a wide selection of goods unique to Yanagawa, the Chikugo region and Ohana itself. They include delicacies from the Ariake Sea, Kurume-gasuri traditional handwoven fabrics, items made from woven rushes, and goods exclusive to Ohana.