About the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse
The Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse (上野家住宅旧穀蔵, Ueno-ke Jūtaku Kyū Kokugura) is a 2-story Dozo-zukuri storehouse built in the late Edo period (1830 to 1867) in Matsuyama-machi Muramatsu, Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2010.
It is the oldest of the seven registered structures on the Ueno estate. It joins the west end of the Miso Storehouse on an east-west axis and measures 14 by 5.7 meters, a building area of 87 square meters, second only to the main house among the estate's buildings. The roof is a simple gable (Kirizuma-zukuri) laid with pantiles.
As the word "former" in its name says, it was built to hold grain. The records do not say what it is used for today.
Why the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse Was Registered
The Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs singles out its size as a two-story storehouse and the composed design of its south front.
Kitakata City identifies two great waves of storehouse building in the area: one from the end of the Edo period into Meiji, when families built storehouses for their trades and their stock, and a second from the mid-Meiji era to the early Showa era. This storehouse belongs to the first wave and is older than the main house of 1876. Tracing the history of the estate, it comes first.
What to Look For
Start at the base. The Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse rests on a continuous footing of cut stone, which in turn sits on a course of natural boulders, so you see rough stone below and a dressed band above.
The walls are finished in Shikkui lime plaster with wooden boarding at the bottom. On the south side, a doorway with its own small roof is set toward the east end, and windows open on both floors. The agency describes this front as having a sense of rhythm.
Shifting the doorway off center and spacing the windows keeps a 14-meter wall from looking flat. Plaster, boarding, a door canopy and a few windows are all the design needs.
Visiting the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse
The Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse stands midway along the chain of storehouses that runs west from behind the main house. It does not face the street.
The estate is a private home and no public opening has been announced, so please stay off the grounds. The layout of the estate and directions are on the Ueno Family Residence (Kitakata) page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Fukushima
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse
- [ Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle & Ouchi-juku Village Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse built?
- In the late Edo period, between 1830 and 1867, making it the oldest of the seven registered structures. It was registered on September 10, 2010.
- How big is the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse?
- It is a 2-story earthen-walled storehouse measuring 14 by 5.7 meters, with a building area of 87 square meters.
- What is unusual about the foundation of the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse?
- It has two tiers: natural boulders below and a continuous footing of cut stone on top of them.
- What does the front of the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse look like?
- The south front has a doorway with a small roof set toward the east end and windows on both floors, a layout the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes as rhythmic.
- Can I visit the Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse?
- No public opening has been announced. It stands inside the grounds of a private home and cannot be reached from the street.
Basic Information
| Name | Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 2740-1 Aza Tokiwacho, Matsuyama-machi Muramatsu, Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2010 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Dozo-zukuri, 2-story, tiled roof, building area 87 m² |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | No public opening announced (private residence) |
References
- Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs database)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008250
- Ueno Family Residence Former Grain Storehouse (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/198212
- Ueno Family Residence Miso Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs database)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008249
- Overview of Kitakata's historic and cultural resources (Kitakata City, PDF)
- https://www.city.kitakata.fukushima.jp/uploaded/attachment/43016.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.01
