A Two-Storey Rice Store Behind the Main House
The Isaji Family Residence Storehouse (伊佐治家住宅土蔵, Isaji-ke Jūtaku Dozō) is an early Meiji-era earthen-walled storehouse in Furuyashiki, Mitake Town, Gifu Prefecture, listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on May 10, 2018. Built in the Dozo-zukuri manner, it rises 2 storeys under a tiled roof on a footprint of 21 square metres. Of the five registered buildings on the estate, it is the only one put up in the Meiji era.
It stands directly behind the earth-floored work area of the main house, ridge running east-west, and measures 4.7 metres by 3.7 metres beneath a gabled roof. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the ground floor originally held rice, while the upper floor stored household utensils and furnishings.
For a farming household, a rice store was indispensable. Its position just behind the doma was very likely tied to the simple business of carrying grain from the work floor into safekeeping.
Earthen Walls, White Trim
The walls of the Isaji Family Residence Storehouse are left in their intermediate earthen coat, with white Shikkui lime plaster applied only around the openings and under the eaves. Unlike storehouses plastered white all over, this one shows an earth-toned body in which the door, the windows and the eaves line are picked out in white.
The entrance is on the south side. A fixed door frame is built into the wall, and a small lean-to roof, a Geya, projects in front of it, sheltering whoever was loading or unloading and giving a dry spot to set goods down.
Family records mention repairs that renewed the walls and re-laid the roof. What stands today reflects that cycle of upkeep.
Why It Was Registered, and What to Look For
The Isaji Family Residence Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. Alongside the main house, reception wing, gatehouse and tea house, it completes the picture of a well-to-do farming estate.
Look for the change of colour. The boundary between the earthen coat and the white plaster appears only around the openings and the eaves, drawing a crisp outline around the building. The south doorway with its little lean-to is worth a moment too, since it shows plainly how the store was worked.
Visiting
The Isaji Family Residence Storehouse stands within a private estate and is not open to the public. Tucked behind the main house, it is hard to see from outside. Seeing it would require a visit arranged with the family or an occasion when the estate is opened for an event. Directions and general visiting conditions are covered on the Isaji Family Residence page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Isaji Family Residence Storehouse
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Q&A
- When was the Isaji Family Residence Storehouse built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Meiji era. It is the only one of the five registered buildings on the estate that was built in the Meiji era.
- What was the Isaji Family Residence Storehouse used for?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the ground floor was originally a rice store and the upper floor held household utensils and furnishings.
- How big is the Isaji Family Residence Storehouse?
- It is a 2-storey earthen-walled storehouse with a tiled gabled roof and a building area of 21 square metres, measuring 4.7 metres by 3.7 metres.
- Why is the Isaji Family Residence Storehouse a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on May 10, 2018, for its contribution to the historic landscape, as one of the buildings that together make up the estate.
- Can visitors see the Isaji Family Residence Storehouse?
- It stands inside a private estate and is not open to the public. As of September 2026 no regular opening had been announced; inquiries can be made through the family's website.
Basic Information
| Name | Isaji Family Residence Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 381 Daioji, Furuyashiki, Mitake-cho, Kani-gun, Gifu Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/5/10 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Dozo-zukuri earthen-walled storehouse, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 21 square metres, 4.7 metres by 3.7 metres |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | No regular public access (private residence) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Isaji Family Residence Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012367
- Gifu Prefecture: Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Structures)
- https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/page/12417.html
- Isaji Family Residence (family website)
- https://isaji-yashiki.jimdofree.com/
Last verified: 2026.09.26
