A Rice Storehouse of 1902
The Watanabe Family Residence Storehouse (渡部家住宅土蔵) is a rice storehouse of 1902 in Hachimantai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 27, 2006 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a 2-storey earthen-walled storehouse with a sheet-iron roof and a building area of 124 square metres; registration number 05-0138.
The Rice Store Northeast of the House
The Watanabe Family Residence Storehouse is a rice store standing northeast of the main house (Agency for Cultural Affairs). At 8 by 4 bays it is fairly large for a dozo-zukuri store, a building with thick earthen walls over a timber frame, here 2 storeys high, with its doorway under a lean-to roof on the south side.
Its gabled roof, originally covered with split-wood shingles, is turned 45 degrees from the ridge of the main house (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Records show it was built by the same master carpenter as the main house.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it is a fairly large 2-storey rice store and that records tie it to the same master carpenter as the main house; it was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look at the gabled roof turned 45 degrees from the ridge of the main house (Agency for Cultural Affairs); comparing the two ridges makes the angle clear.
The doorway under the lean-to on the south side is the other detail to find, the working entrance of the rice store (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The storehouse stands within a private residence, and no official information on access to the interior was found.
Q&A
- When was the storehouse built?
- In 1902 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What was the storehouse used for?
- Storing rice (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What should I look for?
- The gabled roof set at 45 degrees to the main house and the doorway under the south lean-to.
- Who built it?
- Records show it was built by the same master carpenter as the main house (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Watanabe Family Residence Storehouse registered?
- On March 27, 2006 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Watanabe Family Residence Storehouse (渡部家住宅土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 63 Ishidoriya, Hachimantai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2006/03/27 (Heisei 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-storey dozo-zukuri, sheet-iron roof, 124 m², 8 by 4 bays |
| Owner | Private (per Kazuno City; not listed in the Agency database) |
| Public Access | Private house (no official visiting information) |
References
- Watanabe Family Residence Storehouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00005404
- List of Designated Cultural Properties (Kazuno City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.kazuno.lg.jp/kanko_bunka_sports/bunkazai/2/3968.html
Last verified: 2026.10.19
