A Black-Plastered Shop of 1905
The Sakamoto Sohonten Store (坂本総本店店舗) is a fireproof storehouse-style shop of 1905 in Yokaichiba, Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on July 8, 1999 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey shop of 40 square metres in fireproof storehouse construction with a tiled roof; registration number 12-0011.
A Storehouse-Style Shop on the Old Road
The Sakamoto Sohonten Store stands north-west of Yokaichiba Station on the Sobu Line, on the old road linking Togane and Choshi: a two-storey fireproof shop in black plaster with a gabled roof, entered on the long side (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
An ink inscription on the underside of the main ridge beam records the year of building and the name of the master carpenter (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Chiba tourism association notes the shop sign hung on its eaves.
Why It Was Registered
It was registered as hard to reproduce (Agency for Cultural Affairs), and is valued as a reminder of Yokaichiba's old roadside townscape.
What to Look For
Look for the heavy black-plastered storehouse front and the shop sign on the eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Chiba tourism association). Other registered buildings, such as the Arai Clock Shop, line the same street (Chiba tourism association).
Visiting
The exterior can be seen from the main shopping street. No official information on interior access was found.
Q&A
- When was the Sakamoto Sohonten Store built?
- In 1905 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where is the Sakamoto Sohonten Store?
- In Yokaichiba, Sosa City, north-west of Yokaichiba Station on the old road.
- What should I look for?
- Its black-plastered storehouse-style front.
- Can I visit the Sakamoto Sohonten Store?
- The exterior is visible from the street; no interior access information was found.
- When was the Sakamoto Sohonten Store registered?
- On July 8, 1999 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Sakamoto Sohonten Store (坂本総本店店舗) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2474 Yokaichiba, Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1999/07/08 (Heisei 11) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey storehouse construction, tiled roof, 40 m² |
| Owner | Sakamoto Sohonten Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Exterior only (no interior access information) |
References
- Sakamoto Sohonten Store (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00001169
- Yokaichiba Honcho-dori townscape (Chiba tourism association, Japanese)
- https://maruchiba.jp/spot/detail_11021.html
- Cultural properties of Sosa City (Chiba Prefectural Board of Education, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/kyouiku/bunkazai/shitei/shichouson/sousa-kenzou.html
Last verified: 2026.10.15