A Tool Storehouse of 1895
The Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse (太田家住宅道具蔵) is a clay-walled tool storehouse of 1895 in Shidazawa, Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on November 2, 2018 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). In Japanese it is written 太田家住宅道具蔵 and read Ōta-ke jūtaku dōgugura.
The Agency records a clay-walled storehouse of 2 storeys roofed in sheet metal, with a building area of 22 square metres; registration number 07-0201.
The Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse stands behind the main house, side by side with the miso storehouse, facing south. It was renovated in 2011 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
A Clay Store with a Raised Roof
The Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse is a two-storey clay-walled storehouse, 3 ken by 2 ken, with a gabled roof built as an Okiyane, a separate roof set over the fire-resistant clay shell, and its entrance on the gable end (Agency for Cultural Affairs). An open lean-to roof shelters the south side.
The walls are finished in Shikkui lime plaster, with the lower part rendered in cement (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse was registered as a building that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency regards it as reflecting the traditional layout of a well-to-do farming homestead.
Together with the miso storehouse of the same year beside it, it forms the cluster of storehouses behind the main house.
What to Look For
The south front is the face of the Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse. The doorway is set in a heavy, decorated frame, and the house name, or yagō, is carved in relief at the centre of the gable (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The design of the carved mark could not be confirmed from published sources. Placing the family mark on the gable gives even a utilitarian tool store a role as part of the household's public face.
Visiting
The Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse stands behind the main house on private property and is not open to the public. Its carved gable faces south, but whether it can be seen from the road has not been confirmed. Directions are on the Ota Family Residence (Minamisoma) page.
Q&A
- When was the Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse built?
- In 1895, according to the Agency for Cultural Affairs; it was renovated in 2011.
- How is the Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse built?
- It is a clay-walled storehouse of 2 storeys with a separate protective roof, gable-entry, roofed in sheet metal, 3 ken by 2 ken, with a building area of 22 square metres.
- What is on the front of the Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse?
- A heavily framed doorway and the family's house name carved in relief at the centre of the gable.
- Can I visit the Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse?
- No. It stands on private property and is not open to the public.
- When was the Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse registered?
- On November 2, 2018 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse (太田家住宅道具蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 12 Shidazawa, Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/11/02 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Clay-walled storehouse, 2 storeys, sheet-metal roof, building area 22 m² |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- Ota Family Residence Tool Storehouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00012486
- Cultural Heritage of Minamisoma: List of Designated Cultural Properties (Minamisoma City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.minamisoma.lg.jp/material/files/group/43/siteibunkazai.pdf
Last verified: 2026.11.02
