A Two-Story Storehouse Said to Have Held Raw Silk
The Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse (森秀織物旧土蔵, Morihide Orimono Kyū Dozō) is a two-story earthen-walled storehouse from around 1924, standing north to south near the west edge of the Morihide Textiles site in Higashi, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006.
The national record gives 5 by 2 bays (ken) and a building area of 33 square meters, under a gabled tile roof. According to Kiryu City, it was the raw-silk store of the weaving works and originally stood behind the Morishima main house, where the West Storehouse is now; it is said to have been moved here in the early 1960s.
It is registration number 10-0178. It now stands west of the entrance hall of the Orimono Sankokan Yukari museum and serves as the Orikura gallery.
Why the Former Storehouse Was Registered
The Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse was registered under the criterion for buildings that contribute to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as a medium-sized storehouse that helps form the factory scene.
Raw silk was a weaver's most valuable stock, and a fire-resistant, damp-proof storehouse was essential. A single storehouse standing among the workshops is typical of how a Kiryu weaving compound was laid out.
What to Look For
Look at the east front. A doorway sits in the middle of the ground floor, and windows are placed symmetrically on both floors. The north and south gable ends each have a central window too. That orderly arrangement gives the small storehouse a neat, composed face.
Kiryu City notes a mortar exterior and board-lined interior walls. As a gallery, the interior lets you see the boarded walls and the height of a two-story storehouse.
Visiting the Former Storehouse
The Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse is open as the Orikura gallery of the Orimono Sankokan Yukari museum, so admission to the museum lets you go inside. It lies just west of the entrance hall, an easy first stop after reception. Hours and admission are on the Morihide Textiles page; ask at reception about photography.
Q&A
- When was the Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse built and registered?
- It was built around 1924 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006, under registration number 10-0178.
- What did the Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse originally hold?
- According to Kiryu City, it was the raw-silk store of the works. It is said to have stood behind the main house, where the West Storehouse now is, and to have been moved here in the early 1960s.
- How is the Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse used today?
- It is the Orikura gallery of the Orimono Sankokan Yukari museum.
- What does the Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse look like?
- It is a two-story storehouse with a gabled tile roof. The east front has a central door on the ground floor and symmetrical windows on both floors, and each gable end has a central window.
- How large is the Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse?
- It is a two-story timber storehouse of 5 by 2 ken, with a building area of 33 square meters.
Basic Information
| Name | Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse (森秀織物旧土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 4-2-24 Higashi, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2006 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2 stories, timber, tile roof, building area 33 m², 5 × 2 ken |
| Owner | Morihide Orimono Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Open as the Orikura gallery of the Orimono Sankokan Yukari museum (admission charged) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Morihide Textiles Former Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005572
- Kiryu City: Morihide Textiles Factory (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/kankou/bunkazai/1010700/kunitouroku/1002000.html
- Kiryu City: Morihide Textiles Factory and Orimono Sankokan Yukari, explanatory sheet (Japanese, PDF)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/_res/projects/default_project/_page_/001/002/000/yukari-2.pdf
- Kiryu City: Orimono Sankokan Yukari (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/kankou/spot/kiryu/1001866.html
Last verified: 2026.10.06
