The wall that frames the estate
The Gate and Fence of the Hanada-Imai Family Residence run west from the south-west corner of the main house, in Mimayano, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture. They date to about 1956, in the mid-Showa period, and together they form the public face of the estate along the lane.
Beside the main house a simple armed-bracket gate, an udegi-mon of one bay's width, gives access to the grounds. From there a long fence extends west, reaching a total length of about thirty-eight metres.
How it is built
The fence is set on foundation stones carrying a timber sill, with posts raised at intervals of one bay. Between the posts the lower part is finished in arai-dashi, a washed-out plaster that exposes fine aggregate for a textured surface, while the upper part is smooth lime plaster. The roof, over both the gate and the wall, is laid in cement pantiles.
Registered as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2016, the gate and fence were recognised for their contribution to the historic character of the district. It is a reminder that boundaries and walls, not only houses, shape how a place looks and feels.
What to look for
The pleasure of this structure is its length and calm. The long run of white plaster, capped with tile and broken only by the modest gate, gives the lane a quiet order and sets off the main house and outbuildings behind it.
Because the wall lines a public lane, it is one of the most approachable parts of the residence to see. The house itself remains private and is not generally open, so please view the gate and fence from the road and confirm any access with Gero City.
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Q&A
- What is an udegi-mon?
- An udegi-mon is a simple gate whose roof is carried on bracket arms projecting from the posts. The one here is a modest gate of a single bay's width.
- How long is the fence?
- About thirty-eight metres, running west from the south-west corner of the main house.
- What is the arai-dashi finish?
- Arai-dashi is a washed-out plaster finish that exposes fine aggregate, giving a textured surface. Here it is used on the lower part of the wall, with smooth plaster above.
- When were the gate and fence built?
- Around 1956, in the mid-Showa period, later than the main house and storehouse.
- Can I see it up close?
- The gate and fence line a public lane, so they are easy to view from the road. The house is private and not generally open; confirm any access with Gero City.
Basic Information
| Name | Hanada-Imai Family Residence Gate and Fence (花田今井家住宅門及び塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 149-1 Hanadagaito, Mimayano, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Category | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Registered | 29 November 2016 (registration no. 21-0248) |
| Count / scale | 1 unit; gate frontage 1.7 m; fence total length about 38 m |
| Structure | Timber, tiled (cement pantile); plaster fence with a bracketed gate |
| Date | About Showa 31 (c. 1956) |
| Public access | Lines a public lane and is easy to view from the road. The residence itself is private. |
References
- Cultural Heritage Online — Hanada-Imai Family Residence Gate and Fence
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/245431
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database — Gate and Fence
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011314
- Gifu Prefecture, Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings)
- https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/page/12417.html
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Registered Tangible Cultural Properties
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/toroku_yukei.html
Last verified: 2026.07.07