Registered Tangible Cultural Properties · Gunma

Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed

Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed: A Tall Meiji Storeroom

An early Meiji storage shed on the east side of the Kawabata estate in Fujioka, Gunma, whose long posts lift the roof framing high over a boarded floor.

Designation Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

Location Gunma

What Is the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed?

The Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed (川端家住宅物置, Kawabata-ke Jūtaku Monooki) is a single-storey storage building near the middle of the east side of the Kawabata estate in Tateishishinden, Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture, thought to date from the early Meiji period and registered in 2001 as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

It runs north to south under a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki tiles, with a building area of 40 square meters. On its inner, west side is an open lean-to roof with no wall below.

Like the Miso Storehouse, it is placed in the early Meiji years, suggesting that the east side of the compound had taken shape before the Great Gate and the Villa were built.

Why the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed Was Registered

The Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property under the criterion "contributes to the historic landscape of the country."

The Agency for Cultural Affairs says it forms, with the Miso Storehouse and others, a continuous front along the east side. It is part of the line of buildings that runs north from the Great Gate and defines the estate’s outline.

That even a plain storage shed was registered says a good deal about this estate: its value lies in how the buildings work together, not only in a few showpieces.

Highlights of the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed

What sets the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed apart is its interior height. Long posts lift the traditional Wagoya roof framing well above the floor, so a single-storey building encloses a tall space.

The floor is boarded, and the Agency describes the interior as a space for storing many different things. Farm tools, festival gear and seasonal goods of every size are easier to handle in a room with height and width.

The open lean-to on the west side repeats the arrangement of the Miso Storehouse. From inside the grounds, you can picture the east-front buildings lined up with their sheltered work areas side by side.

Visiting the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed

The Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed stands on the east side of the estate, but the residence is private and not open to the public. The raised roof framing can only be seen from inside.

The owners accept reservation-only bookings for filming and events; whether the shed interior can be viewed is something to ask at that stage.

For the layout and access, see the Kawabata Family Residence page.

Q&A

QWhere is the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed?: ANear the middle of the estate’s east side, part of the row of buildings that includes the Miso Storehouse.

QWhat is special about the interior of the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed?: ALong posts raise the roof framing high above a boarded floor, creating a tall space for storing items of many sizes.

QWhat is the structure of the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed?: AA single-storey gabled building with a tiled roof, 40 square meters in area, with an open lean-to on its west side.

QWhen was the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed built and registered?: AIt is thought to date from the early Meiji period and was registered in 2001 for its contribution to the historic landscape.

QCan I look inside the Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed?: AThe estate is not open to the public. Ask the owners when making a reservation-only booking.

Basic Information

Name	Kawabata Family Residence Storage Shed
Location	391 Tateishishinden, Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture
Designation	Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building)
Year Designated	2001 (Heisei 13)
Quantity	1 building
Dimensions	Building area 40 m²
Owner	Kawabata Hozensha
Public Access	Not open to the public (private home; reservation-only use for filming and events)