An Early Kikutake Pavilion above the Chikugo River
The Bairinji Tea House (梅林寺ティーハウス) is a tea pavilion in the outer garden of a temple of 1958 in Kyomachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 14, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey reinforced concrete building with a building area of 74 square metres, renovated in 2008; registration number 40-0195.
A Light Frame Fusing Roof and Beam
The Bairinji Tea House is a single-storey reinforced concrete tea pavilion in the outer garden of Bairinji, on high ground on the left bank of the Chikugo River (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Round columns and wall columns on its central axis carry a great beam fused with the roof slab, and the walls facing the plum garden and the river are glass curtain walls.
According to Kurume City's guide to the Bairinji outer garden, it is known as the Tea House Baien and was designed by the architect Kikutake Kiyonori, a native of Sesecho in Kurume.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes it as an early work by Kikutake Kiyonori that achieves a light design through an unusual structure, and registered it as a model of design.
What to Look For
Look for the great beam fused with the roof slab and the curtain walls facing the plum garden and the river (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Bairinji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on public access was found.
Q&A
- When was the tea house built?
- In 1958 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who designed it?
- Kikutake Kiyonori, a native of Kurume.
- What is unusual about its structure?
- Columns carry a great beam fused with the roof slab.
- Where is it?
- In the outer garden of Bairinji above the Chikugo River.
- When was the Bairinji Tea House registered?
- On October 14, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Bairinji Tea House (梅林寺ティーハウス) |
|---|---|
| Location | 5-209-43 Kyomachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2021/10/14 (Reiwa 3) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey reinforced concrete, 74 m² |
| Owner | Bairinji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | No official information on access |
References
- Bairinji Tea House (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00014117
- Bairinji Outer Garden (Kurume City)
- https://www.city.kurume.fukuoka.jp/1080kankou/2015bunkazai/3050kurumeshishi/files/bairinji3.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.23