About the Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse
The Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse (茂原家住宅米蔵, Shigehara-ke Jūtaku Komegura) is a late Edo period earthen storehouse, built between 1751 and 1829, at the Shigehara Family Residence in Obata, Kanra Town, Gunma Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 31, 2003.
Built in the Dozo-zukuri manner, with thick clay walls over a timber frame, it has two floors inside and a third over part of the plan. At 55 square meters it is the largest of the three storehouses on the plot. It stands southeast of the main house and faces west. The name points to rice, though the Agency for Cultural Affairs does not say what was kept inside.
A Storehouse That Doubles as a Boundary
The Shigehara rice storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency notes that it is fairly large for a storehouse and that it fronts the street, marking the edge of the plot, so that it keeps a piece of the Edo period farming village in view.
In practice the back wall of the storehouse is the property line. Rather than a separate fence, the clay wall of the building does the job, and for anyone walking down the road the Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse is the first part of the compound they see.
A Working Space Under the Lean-to
On the side facing into the plot, the west, the Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse carries a Geya, a lean-to roof running the full length of the wall. The Agency singles this out as creating a generous working space: a covered area where goods could be moved in and out and jobs done even in the rain.
Inside, the storehouse has two floors with a third added over part of it, so the floor count is not the same throughout. The Agency does not say where the third level sits or what it held.
Visiting the Rice Storehouse
The Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse is privately owned and its interior is not open to the public. No special openings were found at the time of writing.
Because it stands on the street, the exterior can be seen from the road. The lean-to on the west side faces into the property and is hard to see from outside. Please photograph only from the public road and keep clear of passing traffic.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Gunma
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse
- [ Kusatsu Onsen & Tomioka Silk Mill Heritage Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late Edo period, between 1751 and 1829. It was registered on January 31, 2003.
- Why is the Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse registered?
- It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. It is fairly large for a storehouse and fronts the street, marking the edge of the plot and keeping an Edo period farming scene in view.
- How big is the Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse?
- Its footprint is 55 square meters, the largest of the three Shigehara storehouses. It has two floors inside, with a third over part of the building.
- What is the lean-to on the Shigehara rice storehouse?
- A geya is a low roof attached to the main body of a building. On this storehouse it runs along the whole west side, facing into the plot, and shelters a broad working area.
- Can I see the Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse from outside?
- Yes. It stands on the street, so the exterior is visible from the road. The interior is closed and the property cannot be entered.
Basic Information
| Name | Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 1445-1 Obata, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered January 31, 2003 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 55 square meters |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003064
- Cultural Heritage Online: Shigehara Family Residence Rice Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/115944
- Gunma Prefecture: List of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties in Gunma (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.gunma.jp/uploaded/attachment/677575.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.03
