The oldest building in the compound
The Goto Family Residence Storehouse (後藤家住宅土蔵) in Akutami, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, is the household storehouse of the Goto family compound, built in the late Edo period (between 1830 and 1868) and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 4, 2021 (number 21-0289).
The Goto Family Residence Storehouse runs east to west south of the main house and west of the former post office. It is the oldest of the 6 registered buildings, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs values it as a survivor of the townscape from before the Nobi earthquake of 1891.
White plaster above, corrugated iron below
The Goto Family Residence Storehouse is a 2-storey earthen-walled Dozo-zukuri building under a gabled, pantiled roof (Sangawara-buki), with a building area of 40 m². A lean-to (Geya) is attached to the north side, with the doorway at its east gable end.
The walls are finished in white Shikkui plaster, with corrugated iron sheeting protecting the lower part. The eaves soffits and the verges of the gables are plastered over as well, leaving no timber exposed, a thorough approach to fireproofing that reaches right up to the roofline.
Under the roof, a heavy main beam carries sloping rafters (Nobori-bari), a sturdy frame of thick timbers.
A storehouse that outlasted the earthquake
The value of the Goto Family Residence Storehouse lies in its age. The main house dates from 1895 and the other buildings from the Taisho and Showa eras; this is the only one standing on its present spot since before the earthquake.
The Goto Family Residence Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. Its white walls, set between the main house and the post office, carry the bones of a household that goes back to the end of the Edo period.
Visiting
The Goto Family Residence Storehouse stands inside the gate and walls, and its interior is closed to the public.
The story of the compound, what can be seen from the road and directions are on the Goto Family Residence page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Goto Family Residence Storehouse
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Q&A
- Where is the Goto Family Residence Storehouse?
- Inside the Goto family compound in Akutami, Gifu City, south of the main house and west of the former post office.
- When was the Goto Family Residence Storehouse built and registered?
- It dates from the late Edo period (between 1830 and 1868) and was registered on February 4, 2021, under number 21-0289.
- Why is the Goto Family Residence Storehouse considered important?
- It is the oldest building in the compound and is valued as a survivor of the townscape from before the Nobi earthquake of 1891.
- How is the Goto Family Residence Storehouse built?
- It is a 2-storey earthen-walled storehouse with a gabled, pantiled roof and a building area of 40 m², plastered white above a corrugated-iron skirt, with a heavy beam carrying sloping rafters.
- Can I visit the Goto Family Residence Storehouse?
- No. It stands inside the gate and walls and is closed to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Goto Family Residence Storehouse (後藤家住宅土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 48 Akutami 1-chome, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 21-0289 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2021/02/04 (Reiwa 3) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen-walled storehouse, 2 storeys, tiled roof; building area 40 m² |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Goto Family Residence Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00013551
- Cultural Heritage Online — Goto Family Residence Storehouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/539698
- Gifu City — List of National Registered Cultural Properties in Gifu City
- https://www.city.gifu.lg.jp/kankoubunka/bunkazai/1005549/1019171.html
Last verified: 2026.10.06
