Anma-Family Samurai Residence Museum

The Anma-Family Samurai Residence Museum in Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, offers visitors an authentic glimpse into the life of lower-ranking samurai during Japan's Edo period. The residence was constructed after 1830 following a fire that destroyed the original home, and was renovated and opened to the public as a museum in 1995. The Anma family, who lived in this residence for generations, were granted a stipend of 12 koku and three fuchi, indicating their modest status within the samurai hierarchy.

The family served as retainers to the Aoyama Clan, who were the lords of Sasayama Castle. The residence represents a standard-scale house for a lower-class samurai in the Sasayama Domain and provides insight into samurai daily life during that era. The traditional thatched-roof buildings are arranged in the typical layout of a samurai home, and the museum displays historical documents and everyday tableware left behind by the Anma family.

Visitors can explore the tatami rooms featuring the Anma family crest and view artifacts including armor helmets and household items. A notable feature is the suikinkutsu, a water harp cave in the courtyard that produces melodic sounds when water drips into the buried earthenware jar. The residence grounds also include what was once a field and forge area, now transformed into a garden space.

Admission costs 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children, though visitors can purchase a common admission ticket for 900 yen that includes access to the Oshoin, Museum of History, and Aoyama Historical Village. The museum is located in the Okachimachi Samurai District near the western moat of Sasayama Castle. Visitors can reach the site by taking a bus to Nikaimachi stop and walking approximately 15 minutes, or from Sasayamaguchi Station on the JR Fukuchiyama Line via local bus service.