The Kamihaga Residence belonged to one of Uchiko's richest wax-making families, and it explains why this small town looks the way it does. The compound includes a Meiji-period house, work spaces, a garden, and exhibits on the vegetable wax trade that made Uchiko prosperous.
Look for the details: heavy beams, restrained tatami rooms, old tools, family portraits, and the mix of Japanese and Western touches that came with the late 19th century. It is the most useful stop in town if you want the preserved streets to feel like a lived economy rather than just pretty architecture.