Buke Yashiki, Samurai Residences

Architectural Styles of the Samurai

Samurai residences are known collectively by the relatively modern (early 20^th century) coined term of buke-yashiki 武家屋敷. The term buke-yashiki nowadays includes tenements, houses, mansions and palaces lived in by the warrior class, and usually displaying architectural features peculiar to the samurai. Another term is bushi juutaku 武士住宅 but this and buke-yashiki, refer simply to the residences of the warrior class, and do not imply the existence of a distinctive style.