Until 1631when the bakufu built machi-bugyo-sho offices, the person appointed a machi-bugyo officer used his residence as the office, executing his job by providing a court (called shirasu: literally, a white sand area) in the premise.
1631年に幕府が町奉行所を建てるまで、町奉行所は、町奉行に任ぜられた者がその邸宅にお白洲を作ってその職務を執り行っていた。