House construction in the kingdom period was controlled by the government. Limits were placed on the residences, living area and building materials according to social rank.
The residences of farmers were called Anaya and limited to 80 tsubo or 264 square meters in area and were with thatched roofs. In Shuri and Naha, genuine wooden houses with tiled roofs called Nuchija were built. After 1889 limits on building were removed and red tiled roofs with the ubiquitous ceramic Shisa (Chinese lion) for protection against natural disaster began appearing. Instead of the typical entrance way or Genkan, found in Japanese houses, a barrier wall called a Hinpun was placed in front and shielded the inside of the main house from view. Looking from the main building, adjacent buildings to the front left were for the newly married and older relatives.
On the right were the animal shed and barn and located in the back was the pigsty. Set around the perimeter of houses were stone walls and Fukugi, garcinias, were planted to prevent typhoon damage.