Two quiet rooms on the pond
The Former Kurauchi Family Residence Zashiki Wing (旧蔵内家住宅座敷棟, Kyū-Kurauchi-ke Jūtaku Zashiki-tō) in Kamifukano, Chikujo-machi, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a 1917 wing of formal Zashiki rooms attached to the northwest of the Kurauchi family's Main House, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 14, 2002.
A zashiki is the best room of a Japanese house, laid with tatami and used for receiving guests. This single-storey wing has an east-west Irimoya-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki tiles, wrapped by a canopy one bay deep, and covers 138 square metres. Inside are two 10-mat rooms in a row; the one nearer the Main House has a Tokonoma alcove and a Tsukeshoin writing bay.
It went up relatively early in the expansion that followed the founding of Kurauchi Mining in 1916, one of the buildings the national record ties to the family's push to grow its business.
Why it was registered
The Zashiki Wing was registered as number 40-0023 as a model of design, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs commends its careful Sukiya-zukuri detailing.
Chikujo Town explains that the Taisho additions were set out in a staggered line so that the pond garden, once seen mainly from the reception room, could be enjoyed from several angles. The Zashiki Wing stands midway along that line and looks at the water from its own direction.
Restrained rather than showy, its pair of 10-mat rooms contrasts with the two 18-mat rooms of the Great Hall Wing next door, a sign that the family graded its hospitality from intimate to grand.
What to look for
In the room nearest the Main House, see how the alcove and the writing bay meet. Light from the garden comes through the writing bay's paper screen and falls softly into the depth of the alcove.
The town highlights the painted panels on the small cupboard doors set high beside the alcove, so look up to find them. Door pulls and transoms have been given the same attention.
Step onto the veranda and you can see the roofs of the Tea Room and the Great Hall Wing stepping away beside you. Comparing how the same pond looks from each room is one of the real pleasures of this house.
Visiting the Zashiki Wing
The Former Kurauchi Family Residence Zashiki Wing is on the regular Kyu-Kurauchi-tei route and admission covers the interior. On days when the rooms are used for exhibitions or events, the accessible area may change.
Wheelchairs cannot be used inside. Ask at the desk about photography. Hours and directions are on the Former Kurauchi Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Fukuoka
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Kurauchi Family Residence Zashiki Wing
- [ Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine & Hakata Food Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Former Kurauchi Family Residence Zashiki Wing built?
- In 1917.
- What rooms are in the Kurauchi Zashiki Wing?
- Two 10-mat rooms in a row, the one beside the Main House fitted with an alcove and a writing bay.
- What should I look for in the Kurauchi Zashiki Wing?
- The sukiya-style alcove and writing bay, the painted panels on the high cupboard doors, and the view of the pond.
- Can you go inside the Kurauchi Zashiki Wing?
- Yes. It is part of the Kyu-Kurauchi-tei visitor route.
- What protection does the Kurauchi Zashiki Wing have?
- It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) on February 14, 2002.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kurauchi Family Residence Zashiki Wing |
|---|---|
| Location | 396 Kamifukano, Chikujo-machi, Chikujo-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2002/2/14 (Heisei 14) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber building, tiled roof, building area 138 square metres (2 rooms of 10 tatami) |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database (opened to the public by Chikujo Town as Kyu-Kurauchi-tei) |
| Public Access | Open to the public as part of the Kyu-Kurauchi-tei tour route (closed Wednesdays) |
References
- Cultural Heritage Database: Former Kurauchi Family Residence Zashiki Wing (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00002704
- Facilities: Kyu-Kurauchi-tei (Chikujo History Walk)
- https://www.chikujo-rekishi.jp/guide/kyukurauchitei/k002.html
Last verified: 2026.09.26
