What is the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building?
The Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building (旧紐育スタンダード石油会社倉庫南棟, Kyū Nyūyōku Sutandādo Sekiyu Gaisha Sōko Minamitō) is a single-storey brick oil warehouse built in 1905 in Kanegasaki-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
It stands parallel to the North Building, only 3 m away, and matches it in size and form, with a building area of 513 m² under a tiled roof. Today the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building is the restaurant hall of the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse, and anyone can walk in without paying admission.
Why the South Building was registered
The Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country. Together with its twin, it is counted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs among the largest brick buildings in Fukui Prefecture.
The agency also names the parts of the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building that survive from 1905: the ornament framing the upper windows in the gable ends, the ornament around the central doorway on the long side, and the iron doors themselves. The fittings an oil company hung on its warehouse in the late Meiji era are still in place.
The interior counts as well. There is not a single column inside, and the agency credits a queen post truss for making that wide, open space possible.
What to look for at the South Building
Start with the brickwork. The walls of the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building are laid in English bond, with one course showing the long faces of the bricks and the next showing only their short ends, repeated all the way up. Up close, the wall reads as a stack of horizontal stripes, broad and fine in turn.
Next, find the doorway in the middle of the long side and its iron doors. In an otherwise plain brick wall, this is the one place framed with decoration; look up at the gable and the windows near the peak carry similar ornament. On a plain storage building, the decoration is gathered at the doorway on the long side and high in the gable.
Inside, look up. A queen post truss is a Western-style roof frame built around two upright posts, and it lets the roof cross the 15 m span without any intermediate support. The open room of the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building depends on it. The official website says the restaurant interiors were designed to make the most of the old brick space.
Visiting the South Building
The Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building is open as the restaurant hall, with no admission charge. The complex is open from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., but each restaurant inside keeps its own hours. The building closes on Wednesdays (or the following day when Wednesday is a public holiday) and from December 30 to January 2.
The iron doors, the doorway ornament and the gable windows can all be seen for free from the grounds. Glance down the passage between this building and the North Building to see just how close 3 m is. For photography inside, follow the rules of the restaurant you visit. Directions to the site are on the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Fukui
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building
- [ Eiheiji Temple & Tojinbo Cliffs Day Trip ]
Q&A
- When was the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building built?
- It was built in 1905 as an oil warehouse for the Standard Oil Company of New York and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 8, 2009.
- What original features survive at the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the ornament around the upper gable windows, the ornament around the central doorway on the long side, and the iron doors all date from construction.
- Why are there no columns inside the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building?
- The roof rests on a queen post truss, a Western-style roof frame that spans the 15 m width without intermediate supports.
- How is the brick laid at the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building?
- It is English bond, with courses of long brick faces and courses of short brick ends alternating one above the other.
- Can I go inside the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building, and is there a fee?
- Yes. It is the restaurant hall of the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse and admission is free. The complex is open from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with individual restaurant hours varying, and closes on Wednesdays (the next day if a holiday) and from December 30 to January 2.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse South Building |
|---|---|
| Location | 16-1 Kanegasaki-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered January 8, 2009 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 513 m² |
| Owner | Tsuruga City |
| Public Access | Open (restaurant hall, free entry) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 旧紐育スタンダード石油会社倉庫南棟
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007480
- Cultural Heritage Online: 旧紐育スタンダード石油会社倉庫南棟
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/172782
- Japan Heritage Portal (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/4997/
- Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse: Facility Guide
- https://tsuruga-akarenga.jp/modules/info/index.php?action=PageView&page_id=6
- Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse: Visitor Information
- https://tsuruga-akarenga.jp/modules/info/index.php?action=PageView&page_id=5
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse
- https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1378/
Last verified: 2026.10.06
