青柳家武家屋敷: 県指定史跡
青柳家は、1603年から1653年に家系が断絶するまで角館を治めた蘆名氏の譜代でした。蘆名氏断絶後はこの地域の新しい領主となった佐竹北家に仕えました。
青柳家武家屋敷は石黒家の屋敷の南にあり、この屋敷もまた、覗き窓がついた黒塗りの木の塀（簓子塀）を構えています。矢板に1860年の日付が記されている正門（薬医門）が訪れる人を敷地に迎え入れます。
門をくぐると、屋根付きの井戸（井戸屋形）と米蔵、そして正玄関があります。脇玄関は北よりにあり、身分が低いため正玄関を使えない商人や客によって使われます。
母屋の屋根は茅葺きの寄棟造りです。この様式の屋根、米蔵、正門、塀などを備えた青柳家の屋敷は、この時期の武家屋敷の優れた史料です。
青柳家の武家屋敷は一般公開されており、入場料には青柳家が長年にわたって所有する歴史的に価値ある品々を収蔵した大規模な資料館の閲覧料も含まれています。建物と敷地は様々なイベントや文化体験の開催にも利用されています。
Aoyagi House: Prefecture-Designated Historic Site
The Aoyagi family were hereditary retainers of the Ashina family, which ruled Kakunodate from 1603 until its family line died out in 1653. After that the Aoyagi entered the service of the North Satake clan, the area’s new rulers.
The Aoyagi house is located to the south of the Ishiguro residence, and also sits behind a black-painted sasarakobei wooden fence with an observation window. The main yakui-mon gate, which has a forepole dated to 1860, welcomes visitors into the grounds.
After passing through the gate, visitors will find a roofed well (ido-yakata) and rice storehouse, as well as the main entryway. A secondary side entrance is located farther north, used by tradespeople and guests whose social status precluded them from using the main entrance.
The roof of the main house is thatched and constructed in the hipped style. This style of roof, in addition to the rice storehouse, main gate, protective fence, and other features, makes the house an excellent example of samurai residences of the period.
The house is open to the public, and the entrance fee includes access to a large archive of historical items owned by the Aoyagi family over the years. The building and grounds are also used to host a variety of events and hands-on cultural experiences.
