Akita City Araya Library Warehouse Building

A Rice Granary Reborn: The Story of Akita City Araya Library Warehouse

In the quiet Araya district on the western edge of Akita City, a row of gable-roofed wooden warehouses stretches along what was once a railway siding connected to the national rice distribution network. Built in 1934 during a period of ambitious agricultural modernization, these eight massive timber structures stored enough rice to supply roughly thirty percent of Akita Prefecture's annual consumption. Today, the southernmost warehouse in this remarkable row has been carefully transformed into the storage wing of the Akita City Araya Library—a living example of how Japan preserves its industrial heritage by giving it new purpose.

Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in September 2000, the Araya Library Warehouse stands as a testament to early Showa-era engineering ingenuity and the community's determination to honor its agricultural past while building a vibrant cultural future.

Historical Background: From Agricultural Powerhouse to Cultural Landmark

The warehouse complex was originally constructed by the Akita Prefecture Sales and Purchasing Cooperative Association (the predecessor of today's JA Zen-Noh Akita) in 1934. Each warehouse measured approximately 45 meters in length and 14.3 meters in width, with ceilings soaring to 8.5 meters at their peak—dimensions that reflect the enormous scale of rice production in Akita, one of Japan's premier rice-growing regions.

In 1939, the entire complex was donated to the national government and officially designated the "National Araya Warehouse" (国立新屋倉庫). For over five decades, these buildings served as critical infrastructure for Japan's rice supply management system, with a dedicated railway siding connecting them directly to Araya Station on the Uetsu Main Line. This rail connection remained in place until the warehouses were decommissioned in March 1990.

Following decommission, the local Araya community voiced strong support for preserving these warehouses, which had become an iconic part of the neighborhood's landscape. In 1992, the complex was recognized as a Modern Heritage site of Akita Prefecture, and in the mid-1990s, Akita City designated the surrounding area as the "Furusato Culture Creation Area." Seven of the eight warehouses were eventually allocated to what is now Akita University of Art, while the southernmost building was renovated as the warehouse wing of the new Araya Library, which opened in 1998.

Why It Was Designated: Architectural Value and Cultural Significance

The Araya Library Warehouse was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property because it represents a remarkably well-preserved example of large-scale wooden warehouse construction from the early Showa period. Despite being nearly a century old, the building's structural integrity remains excellent, showcasing construction techniques that are rarely seen in surviving buildings of this era.

What makes these warehouses architecturally distinctive is their innovative hybrid timber frame system. The roof structure combines traditional Japanese wayagumi (和小屋) construction—where diagonal braces called hōzue reinforce the spaces between the two central rows of columns—with Western-style half-triangle Howe trusses on either side. This ingenious fusion of Japanese and Western engineering enabled the builders to span the warehouse's considerable 14.3-meter width without intermediate walls, creating vast uninterrupted interior spaces.

Together with the seven other warehouses now used by Akita University of Art, the library warehouse forms a cohesive ensemble that powerfully evokes the agricultural landscape of prewar Akita. The fact that all eight buildings have been preserved and actively repurposed rather than demolished is considered a model case of cultural property conservation through adaptive reuse.

Highlights and What to See

The Timber Frame Interior

Stepping inside the warehouse wing, visitors are immediately struck by the soaring wooden interior. Two rows of slender bare-wood columns, nearly eight meters tall, line the central corridor, creating a cathedral-like sense of vertical space. Above, the exposed roof trusses reveal the fascinating hybrid construction technique in full detail. The warm tones of the aged timber and the rhythmic repetition of structural elements create an atmosphere that is both serene and awe-inspiring—a remarkable setting for a public library.

The Sake Resource Corner

The Araya district has historically been known for its sake brewing industry, with local spring water and the nearby Omono River contributing to the production of renowned brands such as Aramasa. In tribute to this heritage, the library's warehouse wing houses a dedicated "Sake Resource Corner" with approximately 580 volumes covering all aspects of Japanese sake culture, from brewing techniques to regional history. This specialized collection is a rare find among public libraries and offers a fascinating window into one of Akita's most celebrated traditions.

The Warehouse Row Landscape

Walking along the campus grounds of Akita University of Art, visitors can appreciate the full spectacle of eight wooden warehouses standing side by side with their distinctive triangular rooflines. The former railway siding that once delivered rice to these buildings has been converted into a pleasant pedestrian promenade—known conceptually as the "Street of Memory"—linking Araya Station to the cultural campus. This walkway offers a contemplative stroll through layers of local history.

The BELCA Award-Winning Renovation

The renovation of the warehouse complex, designed by Matsuda Hirata Sekkei, received the 11th BELCA Award in the Best Reform category in 2002. The project was praised for successfully balancing the preservation of the original timber architecture with modern functional requirements. The design concept juxtaposed the "old and good" wooden warehouses against the "new and good" modern university buildings, creating a dialogue between past and present that defines the character of the entire cultural district.

Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions

The Araya Library Warehouse is situated within a vibrant cultural district that offers several worthwhile experiences for visitors.

Akita University of Art

The Tohoku region's only public art university occupies the same campus, with its modern lecture halls and the iconic atrium building creating a striking contrast with the historic warehouses. The university frequently hosts public exhibitions and events that are open to visitors.

Atelier Momosada

Three of the eight warehouses are operated as a community arts center nicknamed "Atelier Momosada," after the area's historic place name derived from the Ainu language. Here, visitors can experience craft workshops in woodworking, ceramics, and glasswork, browse a gallery of student and local artists' work, and relax at the Rest Corner Kurashi café inside one of the renovated warehouses.

Araya Glass Workshop

Opened in 2017, this dedicated glass art facility offers glassblowing experiences, exhibitions of glass artwork by resident and visiting artists, and a café where beverages are served in handmade glass vessels. It is located a short walk from the library in the Araya neighborhood.

Araya's Sake Brewing Heritage

The Araya district's tradition of sake brewing continues to this day. Visitors interested in Japanese sake culture can explore the area's historic streetscape and learn about the local spring water sources that made this neighborhood a center of the brewing industry.