Registered Tangible Cultural Properties · Gunma

Kawabata Family Residence West Wall

Kawabata Family Residence West Wall: The Longest of the 19

At about 44.9 meters, the longest structure on the Kawabata estate in Fujioka, Gunma: a tiled wall of plaster over boards, rebuilt after the 1910 flood.

Designation Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

Location Gunma

What Is the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall?

The Kawabata Family Residence West Wall (川端家住宅西塀, Kawabata-ke Jūtaku Nishi-bei) is the tall wall marking the western boundary of the Kawabata estate in Tateishishinden, Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture, built around the middle Meiji period and registered in 2001 as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

At about 44.9 meters it is the longest of the 19 registered structures. It is a boarded wall roofed with tile, essentially the same in structure and height as the South Wall.

One caution about the sources: the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ description says the wall encloses "roughly the southern half of the north side of the grounds," while the same text calls it the element defining the western boundary. The compass directions in that description do not agree.

Why the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall Was Registered

The Kawabata Family Residence West Wall was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property under the criterion "contributes to the historic landscape of the country," as the element that defines the estate’s western edge.

Inside it stand, from south to north, the Rear Storehouse, the Pawn Storehouse and the Woodshed. The wall runs outside them all, tying the perimeter together.

At roughly three times the length of the South Wall, it is what conveys the scale of the estate to anyone walking along its western side.

Highlights of the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall

The Kawabata Family Residence West Wall and the South Wall share a structural form and a height, yet the Agency for Cultural Affairs specifically notes that the proportions differ: the Shikkui plaster above and the vertical boarding below are set in a different ratio.

Each wall face is a two-part composition, white plaster on top and vertical boards beneath. Because the line between them sits at a different height on each wall, two walls of identical material and form look distinctly different. If you can see both, start by looking at where that line falls.

Like the South Wall, it was badly damaged in the 1910 flood and rebuilt in the same form. The unbroken length standing today is the result of that repair.

Visiting the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall

The Kawabata Family Residence West Wall runs along the western boundary, but the estate is a private home and nothing inside is open to the public. The storehouses and woodshed behind the wall are not shown either.

If you visit during a reservation-only filming or event booking, compare this wall with the South Wall to see the difference in proportion. Check with the owners what is accessible.

Layout and transport details are on the Kawabata Family Residence page.

Q&A

QHow long is the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall?: AAbout 44.9 meters, making it the longest of the estate’s 19 registered structures.

QHow does the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall differ from the South Wall?: AThey share structure and height, but the ratio of plaster above to vertical boarding below is different.

QDo the sources disagree about the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall?: AYes. The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ description mentions the north side of the grounds while also calling the wall the western boundary element.

QWas the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall affected by flooding?: AIt was badly damaged in the 1910 flood and, like the South Wall, rebuilt in the same form.

QCan visitors see the Kawabata Family Residence West Wall?: AThe estate is private and its interior is closed. Ask the owners about access when making a reservation-only booking.

Basic Information

Name	Kawabata Family Residence West Wall
Location	391 Tateishishinden, Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture
Designation	Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building)
Year Designated	2001 (Heisei 13)
Quantity	1 building
Dimensions	Length 45 m (about 44.9 m)
Owner	Kawabata Hozensha
Public Access	Not open to the public (private home; reservation-only use for filming and events)