About the Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse
The Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse (荻野家住宅南蔵, Ogino-ke Jūtaku Minamigura) is a two-story Dozo-zukuri fireproof storehouse built in 1891 just south of the North Storehouse on the Ogino property in Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 7, 2009. It is the oldest of the seven registered structures and, at 18 square meters, the smallest.
The Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse measures 4.9 meters by 3.7 meters, its ridge running east to west like that of its larger neighbour. The roof is a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles, entered from the gable end (Tsumairi), and the walls are finished in white Shikkui lime plaster.
How the South Storehouse Is Built
A pair of hinged doors in Kakegonuri stepped plaster closes the ground floor on the east side. Upstairs, a window opens on the south wall and is shut with an iron door. Each floor is a single undivided room.
The roof is framed in the traditional way, with struts standing on a heavy beam to carry the Munagi ridge beam. The North Storehouse next door went up fourteen years later, in 1905, and shows a truss on its upper floor. The Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse preserves the earlier way of building, and the contrast is easy to grasp when the two are considered together.
Why It Was Registered
The South Storehouse carries registration number 10-0273 and was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. A small gable-entry storehouse set beside the much larger North Storehouse forms part of the row of storehouses behind the merchant's house.
Visiting the Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse
The Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse is privately owned and not open to the public, so its roof framing cannot be seen.
It stands in the middle of the property, and we have not confirmed how much of it is visible from the street or from the lane to the south. 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 South Storehouse
- [ Kusatsu Onsen & Tomioka Silk Mill Heritage Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse built?
- It was built in 1891 and is the oldest of the seven registered structures at the Ogino Family Residence.
- How big is the Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse?
- It is a two-story fireproof storehouse of 4.9 meters by 3.7 meters with a building area of 18 square meters.
- How does the Ogino Family Residence South Storehouse differ from the North Storehouse?
- The South Storehouse carries its ridge on struts set on a heavy beam in the traditional way, while the North Storehouse of 1905 uses a truss.
- Why is the Ogino Family Residence South 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 South Storehouse?
- No. It is privately owned and not open to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Ogino Family Residence South 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 18 square meters (4.9 meters by 3.7 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 South Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007725
- 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
