Kanamori House
Famous for its distinctive architecture, the Kanamori House stands out among the many historic structures in the town of Omori, where the houses of samurai, artisans, and merchants, along with shrines and temples, stand in close proximity. Built in 1850, the building is in many ways a typical merchant’s family residence, with sturdy plastered walls, end-cap roof tiles decorated with the family crest, and a separate fire-resistant storehouse. What is unusual is that the main entrance to the house is located on one of the gabled ends—something rarely seen in Omori, where most entrances are on the long side of the building facing the street. Another uncommon architectural feature is the high second floor with its opening toward the street. Such properties were frowned upon in Omori during the Edo period (1603–1867), because it was considered improper to look down on high-ranking officials when they passed by. In the Kanamori House, however, having a spacious second floor was a necessity; the building functioned as a designated inn for people visiting Omori to borrow money from the magistrate’s office, which represented the central government at Iwami Ginzan until 1867.