“Genkosha” in TamakiTown is a new spot that is attracting attention with its historical space that gives you a wabi-sabi feel! Open to the public in June 2020!

TamakiTown Town, the town next to IseCity, is a town rich in nature with a peaceful rural landscape with Mt. Kunitsuka in the background.
TamakiTown 's charm is not only its laid-back nature that will make you forget the time, but also the many spots where you can feel the history.

Of particular note, the one that deserves attention right now is Genkosha, a cultural property designated by TamakiTown located about a 5-minute walk from JR Tamaru Station.

It was designed and built by Kanamori Tokusui, who was the chief retainer of Kuno Tanba no Kami, the lord of Tamaru Castle, a famous site that can be considered the symbol of TamakiTown.

It is a rare building in Japan, consisting of a tea room for entertaining guests and a residence where the family lives, and TamakiTown wants as many people as possible to know about Genkosha. Since fiscal year 2015, we have been conducting investigations into the state of damage to buildings and conducting seismic diagnosis, and since the following year we have been working on repair and maintenance projects.

And now, it's finally open to the public!

For those who love history, those who enjoy tea, those who are interested in Japanese architecture and culture, and those who want to be healed by the Japanese atmosphere...We have experienced the charm and highlights of Genkosha that can be enjoyed from various perspectives!

When you arrive, first pay the admission fee and receive your ticket at the reception office (Lifelong Active Promotion Council) located in the southwest corner of the Genkosha grounds. At the reception office, you can receive a pamphlet, learn about Genkosha through videos, and relax on a chair in the rest area.

The ticket stub with Genkosha on it is a great souvenir.

Walk along the road leading from the reception office to Genkosha.
Tea plantations flank the road and lead to the building. This reminds us of the fact that Tokusui Kanamori, who built Genkosha, was a fine tea master who received the highest rank of Omotesenke tea ceremony, the Zenten Kaiden.

I visited in early June. Irises were blooming in the moat surrounding Genkosha. You can enjoy looking at these structures even for a short time before heading to the building.

This is the entrance!
Genkosha is characterized by its sukiya style, which consists of a sukiya, which serves as a tea room and a guest house, and a residence where the family lives.
Sukiya-zukuri refers to buildings that use materials that retain their natural texture and have not been touched by humans.
If you look carefully, you will see that traditional natural materials have been used in abundance, such as the reddish-brown clay walls, the beautiful ceiling panels, and the back of the bamboo eaves.

Enter through the entrance and first go to the tea room side in the west half! It is said that Tokusui, who was a top-class tea master, often held tea parties here and deepened his friendships with various famous people, including the samurai class.
This is the largest eight-tatami hall in Genkosha. For tea parties with a large number of people, the four tatami rooms on the south and west sides can also be used.

When you look at it, there is one part where the tatami can be opened. Inside, there is a hearth for boiling water, a structure unique to a tea room.

From the hall, you can see a wonderful garden that has been meticulously recreated as it would have looked like at the time based on drawings. When you sit on the veranda, you can feel the breeze! You'll almost forget the time.
In addition, you can not only tour this wonderful space at Genkosha but also rent out the entire building. You can relax and enjoy the good old luxurious atmosphere on your own.

The highlights of the garden include trees, stepping stones of various sizes, and stone lanterns. A space where you can feel wabi-sabi will expand.

Next, we headed to the three-tatami tea room/booth. It is said that this was the room where Tokusui entertained people close to him. The ceiling on the right side of the photo is slightly lowered, apparently to show modesty towards the guests. Each of these ceiling structures has its own meaning.

The living area has a more modest finish compared to the tea room.
When you take a tour of Genkosha, you will notice that the parts used for the tea ceremony are gorgeous and express the spirit of hospitality, while the parts used as living quarters are just spaces for family members to spend time in. got it!

Genkosha
151-22 Sada, Tamaki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie TamakiTown 519-0414
Phone number 0596-58-8050 (within TamakiTown Lifelong Active Promotion Council)
Admission hours 9:00-16:00
Closed on Tuesdays, New Year holidays (December 29th - January 3rd)
Admission fee: 200 yen for adults, free for high school students and under, free for those with a disability certificate
Access by public transportation: 5 minutes walk from Tamaru Station on the JR Sangu Line
Access by car: Approximately 5 minutes from Tamaki IC on the Ise Expressway
Parking available


Facility usage fee/
Entire facility All day 7,700 yen, 9:00-12:00 3,300 yen, 12:00-16:00 4,400 yen
Tea room (hall) All day 4,200 yen, 9:00 to 12:00 yen 1,800 yen, 9:00 to 12:00 yen 2,400 yen

*For those living outside of town *Air conditioning charges will be charged separately

You can rent just the tea room or just the living room, so it can be enjoyed not only for tea parties but also as a location for workshops and photo shoots.

There is also a cafe called ``Cafe & Space Shichijuniko'' right next to Genkosha.
The 72 seasons are divided into 24 seasonal seasons such as ``the first day of spring'', ``summer solstice'', and ``autumn equinox'', and are further divided into approximately five-day intervals to inform of weather movements and changes in flora and fauna. The name comes from Genkosha's garden, which has a seasonal feel.
A cafe where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, snacks, and even alcohol, perfect for a break after seeing Genkosha!

We had the luxurious "Tamaki Pork Cutlet Sandwich" (700 yen) made with Tamaki pork, a specialty of TamakiTown! The juicy cutlet is so satisfying to eat♪
You can also enjoy daily lunch specials (750 yen), croissant sandwiches baked in-house (350 yen), and weekly craft beers (from 650 yen).
Sandwiches and drinks can also be taken out!

It's also fun to be able to watch the trains passing in front of you from the large windows.

cafe & space 72nd
71-1 Sada, Tamaki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie TamakiTown 519-0414
Phone number 0596-72-8172
Business hours 7:30-17:00, 7:30-22:00 (Fridays, Saturdays, days before holidays)
Closed on Tuesdays (the next day if Tuesday is a holiday)

After leaving Genkosha, your next stop is Tamaru Castle Ruins, a must-visit spot if you're going to TamakiTown!
Tamaru Castle, where Oda Nobunaga, the second son of Oda Nobunaga, built a castle tower and lived as a castle, is a cultural property and historic site designated by Mie Prefecture and has been designated as one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles.
TamakiTown Hall, Ryuhei Murayama Memorial Museum, Tamaki Junior High School, and other facilities are located nearby, making it the central location of TamakiTown.

Before climbing to the ruins of the castle tower at the top, there are many fine stone walls that rise up, giving you an atmosphere reminiscent of the Sengoku period.
The three main entrances and exits of Tamaru Castle are shaped like masugata passageways bent at right angles.
It seems that this is a strategic structure in which the angle of the passage creates an opening for the enemy. It is also said that by creating multiple layers of this square shape, it had the effect of dulling the enemy's sense of direction.
I am reminded once again that this was the stage of an actual battle at that time!

If you look closely at the stone walls, you'll notice that they come in a variety of shapes, with some being stacked horizontally and others vertically. It is said that this difference in the way the stone walls are piled up allows us to tell how long ago the stone walls were built.

As you reach the top of the mountain while following this climbing path, you will see the ruins of the castle tower in the main enclosure. When you climb up to the castle tower, you can get a panoramic view of TamakiTown 's expansive countryside and Mt. Kuzuka!
What's more, on a clear day in winter, you can even see Mt. Fuji to the northeast!

The nature surrounding Tamaru Castle is also a highlight. While walking along the promenade, you can get acquainted with a variety of nature, and it is a place of relaxation for both tourists and locals. It is a famous spot for cherry blossoms in the spring, the lotuses in the moat bloom in the summer, and the illuminations come on in the winter, giving it a different look each season.
The scenic view of the approximately 500 cherry blossom trees and stone walls is breathtaking! It is crowded with many cherry blossom viewing visitors every year.

Finally, head to Tamaki Tourist Information/Local Products Direct Sales Shop Gusuku, located in front of the Tamaki Interchange.
This is a tourist information center with a direct sales store selling fresh vegetables, fruits, rice, and other agricultural products grown by farmers in TamakiTown, as well as specialty products from the surrounding area, as well as tourist pamphlets centered on TamakiTown.

There are restrooms and rest areas, and it's right next to the interchange, so it's a good place to stop by when you arrive TamakiTown, or to shop for souvenirs before heading home!