The Niigata Chuetsu earthquake occurred on October 23, 2004 (magnitude 6.8), caused severe hazards and extensive damages in the Chuetu area, Niigata Prefecture. This region is characterized by agricultural lands and hence, there is little variation of buildings and houses. Many Japanese style wooden houses were severely damaged. We investigated the damage of Japanese wooden houses and structures in the Tamugiyama district, Kawaguchi Town. Initially we examined the geomorphological and geological aspects of the land on which the houses are situated. Most of the houses and buildings in the district are situated on poor-sort admixture consisting of sand and mud gravel beds that has low resistance to ground motion. The house damages are concentrated in the east of the district probably due to the intensive spread of strong motion and earthquake energy. Also, the damages are obvious on the edges of terrace surfaces and on steep slopes of small-scale alluvial fans (taluses) accompanied with rupture of ground surfaces.