The Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate
The Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate (島田家住宅中門, Shimada-ke Jūtaku Chūmon) is a small timber gate of 1953 in Tomoecho 1-chome, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on November 29, 2006; its registration number is 10-0208.
It stands in the courtyard in front of the entrance of the main house, flanked by short wing walls (Sodobei); the south wing wall joins the entrance (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Kiryu City).
A Bracket-Arm Gate 1.2 Metres Wide
The Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate is an Udekimon, a gate whose roof rests on bracket arms, 1.2 metres wide. Its gabled roof is clad in copper sheets laid in straight courses, and the edges are shaped with a gentle curve (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The posts and the lintel are polished logs, the small wall above the opening has a Shitaji-mado lath window, and the doors are a pair of boarded leaves with arched tops (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency notes that the polished logs and the lath window give it something of the air of a rustic tea hut. It marks off the entrance of the main house from the courtyard.
What to Look For
The details of the Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate repay attention: the round log posts and lintel, the arched tops of the board doors, the lath window above, and the soft curve at the edges of the copper roof.
Visiting
The Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate stands inside the courtyard, at the front door of a private home. There is no information on visits, and whether it can be seen from the street has not been confirmed. Please do not enter the lot.
Q&A
- When was the Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate built?
- In 1953 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of gate is the Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate?
- A bracket-arm gate 1.2 metres wide with a gabled copper roof and wing walls on both sides (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What should I look for on the Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate?
- The polished log posts and lintel, the lath window and the arched board doors, which the Agency says lend it a rustic tea-hut air.
- Can I visit the Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate?
- It is the gate of a private home inside the courtyard, and no public access is offered.
- When was the Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate registered?
- On November 29, 2006 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate (島田家住宅中門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-1121-8 Tomoecho, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2006/11/29 (Heisei 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, copper roof, frontage 1.2 m |
| Owner | Unknown (not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | No public access; stands in the courtyard inside the lot |
References
- Shimada Family Residence Middle Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00006069
- Shimada Shoten and Shimada Family Residence, 7 buildings (Kiryu City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/kankou/bunkazai/1010700/kunitouroku/1008501.html
Last verified: 2026.11.01
