About the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse
The Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse (荻野家住宅北蔵, Ogino-ke Jūtaku Kitagura) is a two-story Dozo-zukuri fireproof storehouse built in 1905 west of the main house on the Ogino property in Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 7, 2009. With a building area of 54 square meters, it is the largest storehouse on the property.
The Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse measures 11 meters by 4.8 meters, with a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles whose ridge runs east to west. The walls are finished in white Shikkui lime plaster. The smaller South Storehouse lines up just to the south on the same axis.
How the North Storehouse Is Built
The ground floor is divided into two rooms, with openings on the east and south sides. The east doorway is closed by a pair of hinged doors in Kakegonuri, a finish in which the meeting edges are built up in stepped layers of plaster so that the doors seal tightly against fire.
The upper floor is a single open room that leaves its Truss roof framing exposed. The South Storehouse of 1891 carries its ridge on struts set on a heavy beam in the traditional way, but fourteen years later the builders of the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse used a truss. Two neighbouring storehouses on one property show the shift in roof framing side by side.
Why It Was Registered
The North Storehouse carries registration number 10-0272 and was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. A sizable storehouse in the middle of the plot completes the merchant pattern of shop and house at the front with storage behind.
Visiting the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse
The Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse is privately owned and not open to the public, so the trussed upper floor cannot be seen.
It stands in the middle of the property west of the main house, and we have not confirmed how much of it is visible from the street. Please stay off the grounds and view it only from the public road.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Gunma
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse
- [ Kusatsu Onsen & Tomioka Silk Mill Heritage Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse built?
- It was built in 1905.
- How big is the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse?
- It is a two-story fireproof storehouse of 11 meters by 4.8 meters with a building area of 54 square meters, the largest storehouse on the Ogino property.
- What is special about the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse?
- Its east doors are finished in kakegonuri stepped plaster, and the upper floor shows an exposed truss roof frame.
- Why is the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on August 7, 2009, for its contribution to the historic landscape.
- Can I visit the Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse?
- No. It is privately owned, not open to the public, and stands in the middle of the property.
Basic Information
| Name | Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 334 Nishi-ko, Nakamachi, Oaza Shimonita, Shimonita Town, Kanra District, Gunma Prefecture, and others |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/8/7 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 54 square meters (11 meters by 4.8 meters) |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency's database (private residence) |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (stands inside the property) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Ogino Family Residence North Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007724
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Ogino Family Residence Main House (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007722
- Cultural Heritage Online: Shimonita Town, Gunma (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/region/10/10382
Last verified: 2026.10.07
