Interior of Suzuki House, Nihon Minka-en (Japan Open Air Folk House Museum), Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture

The Nihon Minka-en, or Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum, opened in 1967 and contains almost two dozen historic folk houses and other ancillary structures that were brought to the site from five separate regions throughout Japan and faithfully restored.

The Suzuki House was built in the early 19th century and was brought from Fukushima City in Toyama Prefecture (very near where the Tohoku tsunami triggered a nuclear contamination disaster). It served as a post-road hostel for horse dealers and breeders attending nearby auctions. The rear of the building housed the owner’s family, and there was an earth-floored area, or niwa, where the horses were stabled. This interior view shows the wood-floored area surrounding the cooking fire. The living areas can be seen beyond, with straw tatami mats. The network of sliding partitions, or fusuma, allow a multitude of interior space configurations.

Guide to Open-Air Folk House Museum: http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/88/88minka/home/posttown.htm

Photos of Museum in Tabbo: http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/shared/27538/43cwa6vmpjr82bh