Two Granite Posts on Honchō-dōri
The Soga Family Residence Gate (曽我家住宅門, Soga-ke Jūtaku Mon) is a stone gateway of about 1922 standing on Honchō-dōri in Honchō 1-chōme, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, entered on the register of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties on 18 October 2006.
It opens at the exact centre of the plot's street frontage on the east side. There are no doors and no roof: just a pair of granite posts on stone bases, framing an opening 3.3 metres wide.
The date comes from a drawing of the whole Soga property, which shows the posts and the ornament above them. Kiryu City places them around 1922, when the new reception wing was built. The stone weaving shed at the back of the plot went up the same year.
Reading the Stonework
The Soga Family Residence Gate was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape of the country. Of the five Soga buildings, only the east face of the main house and these gateposts actually present themselves to the street.
Each post is a square pillar of one shaku by eight sun, about 30 by 24 centimetres. The Agency for Cultural Affairs gives the height as about eight shaku (about 2.4 metres); Kiryu City gives about 2.5 metres.
The faces are finished in kobudashi, a rock-faced treatment that leaves the stone deliberately rough with rounded bosses rather than dressing it flat. Up close, every face of the post is covered in small undulations.
The corners are finished with Edokiri. As Kiryu City explains it, each edge of the squared stone is cut back at a right angle to form a step, which makes the block look more three-dimensional and emphasises its thickness. The contrast between the rough boss work and the crisp stepped arrises is the thing to look for.
An Iron-Pipe Karahafu and a Lamp
The other feature of the Soga Family Residence Gate is the ornament linking the tops of the two posts. Iron pipe has been bent into the shape of a karahafu, the undulating gable, rising at the centre and sweeping down at the ends, that crowns shrine, temple and castle gates.
Here the curve is drawn in metal tubing rather than carpentry. A light fitting hangs from its centre and scrolls decorate the frame. The result is a Taishō-period piece of metalwork riding on top of two pieces of dressed stone.
Looking between the posts, you see the shelter of the Inari shrine straight ahead and the south face of the main house to the right. The gate is also the starting point of the axis that leads into the property.
Visiting the Soga Family Residence Gate
The Soga Family Residence Gate can be seen in full from the pavement of Honchō-dōri, which makes it the most visible of the Soga family's registered buildings. The ground inside is private, so please do not step between the posts.
The boss work and stepped corners are easiest to read when the light strikes the posts at a low angle. For the outline of the pipe karahafu, step back to the far side of the street. Kiryu City asks for permission to be obtained before photographing buildings in the preservation district.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Gunma
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Soga Family Residence Gate
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Q&A
- How old is the Soga Family Residence Gate?
- It is thought to date from about 1922. The posts and their ornament appear on a drawing of the whole Soga property, and Kiryu City dates them to the time the new reception wing was built.
- What are the Soga Family Residence Gate posts made of?
- Granite. Each is a square pillar of about 30 by 24 centimetres, with a rough boss finish on the faces and stepped edokiri corners.
- What is the ornament on top of the Soga Family Residence Gate?
- A frame of iron pipe bent into the curved karahafu gable shape and set across the tops of the two posts, with a light hanging from the centre and scroll decoration.
- How tall is the Soga Family Residence Gate?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs gives about eight shaku (about 2.4 metres) and Kiryu City about 2.5 metres. The opening is 3.3 metres wide.
- Can you see the Soga Family Residence Gate from the street?
- Yes. It is fully visible from the pavement of Honchō-dōri. The ground inside is private, so please stay outside, and ask permission before taking photographs.
Basic Information
| Name | Soga Family Residence Gate (曽我家住宅門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-7-7 Honcho, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered on 18 October 2006 |
| Quantity | 1 gate |
| Dimensions | Stone; opening 3.3 m wide |
| Owner | Private (owner not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable from the street only (grounds inside the gate are private) |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Soga Family Residence Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00005755
- Kiryu City: Soga Family Residence (in Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/kankou/bunkazai/1010700/kunitouroku/1002005.html
- Kiryu City: Soga Family Residence Gate, commentary PDF (in Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/_res/projects/default_project/_page_/001/002/005/soga_mon.pdf
- Kiryu City: Outline of the Kiryu Shinmachi Preservation District (in Japanese)
- https://www.city.kiryu.lg.jp/kankou/spot/denken/about/1003081.html
Last verified: 2026.09.24
