Vories Memorial Hall
Vories Memorial Hall is the former home of William Merrell Vories (1880–1964), an American-born architect, evangelist, and businessman who lived and worked in Omihachiman. The two-story wooden building was designed by Vories himself, who originally intended it as a dormitory for kindergarten teachers. During construction, however, he decided instead to make it a home. The structure was completed in 1931, after which Vories lived there with his wife Makiko until his passing in 1964. Simple in overall appearance, the building has a clapboard exterior, gabled roof, and chimney that give it a distinctively Western look. The interior is laid out in a Western style, but Vories also included Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats. The house is now a museum dedicated to Vories’s life, career, and legacy, with various photographs and personal belongings on display inside, and has been designated a Cultural Property of Shiga Prefecture. Visits are by appointment only.