Nishio City Iwase Bunko Storehouse: A Taisho-Era Brick Archive in Japan's Matcha Capital

Tucked within the tranquil grounds of Tsurushiro Park in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture, stands a remarkable red brick building that has quietly watched over one of Japan's most extraordinary book collections for more than a century. The Iwase Bunko Storehouse, built around 1919 during the Taisho era, is a nationally registered tangible cultural property and the beloved symbol of the Iwase Bunko — Japan's first museum dedicated entirely to rare and antique books.

This three-story brick structure, with its distinctive blend of Japanese and Western architectural elements, protected over 80,000 volumes of priceless texts for roughly 80 years. It stands today as a testament to the vision of one remarkable man: Iwase Yasuke, a local industrialist who believed that books could transform society.

The Story of Iwase Yasuke and His Library

Iwase Yasuke (1867–1930) was born in Nishio and built his fortune as the fourth-generation owner of a fertilizer trading business called Yamamotoya. By his thirties, he had become one of the wealthiest figures in the Mikawa region. But rather than simply accumulating wealth, Yasuke devoted himself to public service — serving as mayor of Nishio, founding the Nishio Railway (the predecessor of today's Meitetsu Nishio Line), and donating generously to local schools, hospitals, and disaster relief.

His most enduring legacy, however, was the Iwase Bunko. Founded on May 6, 1908, it was established as a private library open to all. Yasuke had spent years using his extensive business network to acquire rare books from dealers across the nation, motivated by a belief that encouraging reading among young people would elevate society. He continued collecting passionately until his death in 1930, amassing a collection that would eventually grow to over 80,000 volumes.

Architecture of the Storehouse

The storehouse was designed by the Nishihara Architecture Office in Nagoya, led by Nishihara Kichijiro, a former engineer of the Aichi Prefecture Building Division. Completed around 1919, the building is a three-story structure with one underground level, covering a floor area of approximately 80 square meters.

What makes this building architecturally distinctive is its hybrid construction. The exterior walls are brick-clad, but the surface is actually covered with unglazed terracotta tiles manufactured by the Toei Corporation in Tokoname — a famous ceramics-producing city. These tiles were designed to imitate the appearance of header bond brickwork, creating a striking visual effect.

The building blends Japanese and Western styles in a way that was characteristic of the Taisho period. A traditional Japanese kawara tile roof sits atop the structure, while the entrance features Western-style decorative elements and the windows are accented with elegant stone sills. Inside, the structure shifts to a wooden framework — pillars support three levels of flooring where the precious books were stored.

Particular care was taken to preserve the collection. The bookshelves were custom-made to accommodate books of various sizes and formats, with varying widths, depths, and shelf heights. To prevent moisture buildup, the shelves were left unboarded, and the floors were constructed with slatted wooden planking to allow air circulation — an ingenious ventilation system for preserving delicate paper over decades.

Why It Was Designated as a Cultural Property

The Iwase Bunko Storehouse was registered as a national registered tangible cultural property on June 7, 1999. The designation recognizes the building's significance as a well-preserved example of Taisho-era architecture that skillfully combines Western brick construction with traditional Japanese building elements.

The storehouse is valued for its finely composed exterior, where brick-patterned tile walls are elegantly accented with stone details around the windows. The combination of a Japanese tiled roof with Western decorative motifs at the entrance exemplifies the architectural experimentation of the period. Its role in preserving an extraordinary collection of rare books for over 80 years adds historical and cultural importance beyond its architectural merits.

What to See and Experience

While the storehouse itself now serves primarily as the iconic exterior landmark of the Iwase Bunko complex, visitors can admire its elegant brick facade, stone-accented windows, and the harmonious combination of Japanese and Western architectural details. The building is situated within the grounds alongside the modern main hall, which opened in 2003.

Inside the modern Iwase Bunko museum, visitors can experience something truly extraordinary — the ability to handle and read genuine antique books, including works designated as Important Cultural Properties. The collection spans from a Buddhist sutra printed in 770 CE during the Nara period to Edo-period handwritten copies of literary classics like "The Pillow Book," as well as Meiji-era printed editions of Fukuzawa Yukichi's "An Encouragement of Learning."

The museum hosts regular exhibitions exploring the rich world of Japanese book culture, from beautifully illustrated natural history volumes to Edo-era recipe books and historical maps. Photography is permitted throughout the museum, and admission is completely free — honoring the founding spirit of Iwase Yasuke, who wished his books to be accessible to everyone.

Look for the 30 wall murals throughout the complex — reproductions of illustrations from the collection featuring plants, animals, and whimsical yokai creatures.

Nishio: Japan's Matcha Capital and Beyond

A visit to the Iwase Bunko Storehouse pairs wonderfully with exploring the many attractions of Nishio, known as the "Little Kyoto of Mikawa" and one of Japan's leading matcha production areas, accounting for approximately 20% of the nation's total output.

Just a short walk away stands Nishio Castle and the Nishio Historical Park, where visitors can see the reconstructed Honmaru Ushitora Turret, the Chujaku-mon Gate, and enjoy matcha with seasonal sweets at the former Konoe Residence — a traditional aristocratic villa relocated from Kyoto. The Saijoen Matcha Museum "Waku Waku" offers hands-on experiences including matcha blending, stone mill grinding, and tea ceremony in an authentic tea room.

For matcha enthusiasts, the town is home to numerous cafes and shops serving everything from rich matcha parfaits and gelato to matcha soba noodles and matcha-infused French toast. The historic Katekin-do sweet shop, housed in a former Meiji-era post office, is famous for its matcha-flavored taiyaki.

Nature lovers may enjoy the Inariyama Tea Garden Park, which offers panoramic views over the expansive tea plantations. During the first tea picking season from late April through mid-May, visitors can observe — and even participate in — traditional tea harvesting.