About the South Gate and Fence
The Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence (椛島家住宅南門及び塀, Kabashima-ke Jūtaku Minamimon oyobi Hei) in Nijotanaka, Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a gate and fence of the late Meiji period (1898 to 1912), registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on May 2, 2017.
The south gate is the front entrance of the estate, directly opposite the great entrance door of the main house, and it is 2.9 meters wide. Fences run east and west from it for a total of 23 meters. The register number is 40-0145. On open days, visitors enter the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence here.
How the Gate Is Framed
The gate of the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence is a Yakuimon, a gate whose main posts stand forward of the ridge, under a gabled pantile roof (Kirizuma-zukuri, Sangawara-buki). The main posts are rectangular in section (gohira), and 3 beams span the lintel (Kabuki) above them.
Both the eave purlins and the ridge beam rest on boat-shaped bracket arms (Funahijiki), and a frog-leg strut (Kaerumata) decorates the center of the ridge line. Stand beneath the gate and look up to see the layers of beam, bracket and strut.
The fence has a boarded lower half with open transoms above.
A Formal Front
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence as creating a front of real dignity. The yakuimon was long used for the main gates of temples and samurai houses, and here it serves as the public face of a Meiji landowner's estate.
Step through and the view opens: the main house ahead, the wooded burial mound on the left, the koin barn on the right. The gate frames the estate like a picture, and it was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. According to the official site, a weeping cherry grows in front of the gate.
Seeing the South Gate and Fence
The Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence can be seen from the road. You can pass through the gate only on open days.
The space in front of the gate also serves as parking for about 4 cars, so watch for vehicles while you look.
Q&A
- What kind of gate is the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate?
- A yakuimon gate with a gabled pantile roof, 2.9 meters wide, with a frog-leg strut at the center of the ridge line.
- How long is the fence of the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence?
- 23 meters in total, running east and west, with a boarded lower half and open transoms.
- When was the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence built?
- In the late Meiji period (1898 to 1912). It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on May 2, 2017.
- Is the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate the entrance for visitors?
- Yes. It faces the main house entrance directly, and visitors enter through it on open days.
- Can I see the Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence outside open days?
- Yes, from the road. Only on open days can you go through the gate.
Basic Information
| Name | Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence (椛島家住宅南門及び塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 101 Otsuka, Nijotanaka, Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building), register no. 40-0145 |
| Year Designated | Registered May 2, 2017 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | South gate: timber, tiled roof, width 2.9 meters / Fence: timber, tiled roof, total length 23 meters |
| Owner | Kabashima family (private) |
| Public Access | Not open daily; opened during exhibitions held mainly in spring and autumn |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Kabashima Family Residence South Gate and Fence (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011592
- Registered Tangible Cultural Property: Kabashima Family Residence (Itoshima City, in Japanese)
- https://www.city.itoshima.lg.jp/s033/010/020/010/190/20181004152257.html
- Registered Buildings (Kabashima Family Residence official site, in Japanese)
- https://kabashimake.com/buildings/
- Access (Kabashima Family Residence official site, in Japanese)
- https://kabashimake.com/access/
- Kabashima Family Residence official site (in Japanese)
- https://kabashimake.com/
Last verified: 2026.09.27
