The room the garden was made for
The Former Kurauchi Family Residence Reception Wing (旧蔵内家住宅応接間棟, Kyū-Kurauchi-ke Jūtaku Ōsetsuma-tō) in Kamifukano, Chikujo-machi, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a single-storey guest wing built together with the Main House, dated 1887 in the national record and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 14, 2002.
Its Irimoya-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki tiles runs east to west, ringed by a lean-to Geya canopy sheathed in copper. The building covers 110 square metres and holds just two rooms, of 15 and 10 tatami mats.
It meets the Main House at the northeast corner and steps diagonally away in line with the Grand Entrance Wing and the Tea Room, so that from outside the roofs read as one continuous, staggered chain.
Why it was registered
The Reception Wing was registered as number 40-0020 for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs points to the fine craftsmanship of its Tsukeshoin writing alcove and Ranma transoms, made from choice timber, and to the way it links the neighboring wings.
It shares the Main House's dating problem. The Agency gives 1887; Chikujo Town dates the Main House, this wing and the garden to around 1906. Both are recorded here.
What the town is clear about is the room's relationship with the garden. The pond garden laid out in the Meiji era was designed to be viewed mainly from the reception room, which makes this the original front-row seat. Only in the Taisho expansion did the Tea Room, the Zashiki Wing and the Great Hall join it along the pond.
What to look for
Sit back from the veranda and follow the view the garden was built for. The town identifies two jutting rocks on the pond edge, known as the crane-neck and turtle-head stones, and a pair of dry-cascade rock groupings to the north as the main compositions, originally placed with this room in mind.
The latticework of the writing alcove and the openwork transoms are slender, the grain of the wood left visible. Compare them with the Taisho-era rooms further along the route and judge for yourself how the Meiji decoration differs, which is one way to weigh the competing dates.
Outside, note the split in roofing: copper on the lower canopy, clay tiles on the main roof above.
Visiting the Reception Wing
The Former Kurauchi Family Residence Reception Wing is on the regular Kyu-Kurauchi-tei route and admission covers the interior. Whether you can step onto the tatami to look out may depend on exhibitions and events, so follow the attendants.
Wheelchairs cannot be used inside. Check photography rules at the desk. Hours, fees and access are on the Former Kurauchi Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Fukuoka
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Kurauchi Family Residence Reception Wing
- [ Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine & Hakata Food Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Former Kurauchi Family Residence Reception Wing built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to 1887, the same time as the Main House; Chikujo Town gives around 1906. The sources disagree.
- What rooms are in the Kurauchi Reception Wing?
- Two rooms, of 15 and 10 tatami mats, in a single-storey building of 110 square metres.
- How is the Kurauchi Reception Wing connected to the garden?
- According to Chikujo Town, the Meiji-era pond garden was designed mainly to be viewed from the reception room.
- Can visitors enter the Kurauchi Reception Wing?
- Yes. It is part of the Kyu-Kurauchi-tei visitor route.
- When was the Kurauchi Reception Wing registered as a cultural property?
- It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 14, 2002.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kurauchi Family Residence Reception 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 110 square metres (2 rooms of 15 and 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 Reception Wing (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00002701
- Facilities: Kyu-Kurauchi-tei (Chikujo History Walk)
- https://www.chikujo-rekishi.jp/guide/kyukurauchitei/k002.html
Last verified: 2026.09.26
