The Face of the Compound
The Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate (信岡家住宅長屋門, Nobuoka-ke Jūtaku Nagayamon) is a two-storey timber gatehouse of the early Meiji period standing at the front of the Nobuoka Family Residence, south of the main house, in Tode, Shin’ichi-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 18 April 2008.
It runs east to west along the old Fukuyama–Fuchu highway and measures 31 metres by 4.0 metres, a building area of 137 square metres, under a hipped-and-gabled roof of traditional round-and-flat tiles. The passage through it is set toward the western end, and a Tsuchibisashi, a deep eave over an earth floor, runs along the north side.
Today the Nobuoka nagayamon gate houses the Nobuoka Flat Museum, a venue for exhibitions and classes.
Why It Was Registered
The gate was listed for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes its height, which makes it a landmark along the old highway.
A Nagayamon is a gate built into a long row building, a form that in the Edo period was associated with samurai residences and the homes of village headmen. The Nobuoka gate was built in the early Meiji years, but its 31-metre length and its height still announce the standing of the household to anyone passing on the road.
What to Look At
Two storeys under a heavy roof
Many nagayamon gates are single-storey. This one has two storeys and a hipped-and-gabled roof of heavy round-and-flat tiles, and the long roofline stretching 31 metres down the highway is visible from some way off.
A rice store at the east end
The easternmost 3 and a half ken are a rice store with Ōkabe walls, in which the posts are plastered over. With the east storehouse also said to have held rice, the family kept grain both inside the compound and in its street-front building.
Servants’ rooms beside the passage
Rooms for servants flank the passage, probably serving also as a watch on who came and went. Step through and the main house appears straight ahead at the back of the plot.
The north eave
On the north side, facing into the compound, a deep eave shelters an earth floor so that work and deliveries could carry on in the rain.
Visiting
The Nobuoka nagayamon gate is home to the Nobuoka Flat Museum. According to the Fukuyama Tourism and Convention Association and the museum, it opens only for events and classes, held irregularly, and some events charge admission. The museum’s website shows exhibition rooms on both floors, a tatami room upstairs and a café space.
On other days the exterior can be seen from the road. Step back along the highway to take in the full length of the roof.
According to the museum, the gate was restored before it opened as a museum, and the architect in charge of the restoration (大角雄三) spoke about the building at a pre-opening talk.
Q&A
- When was the Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate built?
- It dates from the early Meiji period.
- How big is the Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate?
- It is a two-storey timber building with a hipped-and-gabled tiled roof, 31 metres by 4.0 metres, with a building area of 137 square metres.
- What is inside the Nobuoka nagayamon gate?
- Servants’ rooms flank the passage near the western end, and the easternmost 3 and a half ken form a plastered rice store. Today the building houses the Nobuoka Flat Museum.
- Why is the Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on 18 April 2008 for its contribution to the historic landscape; its height makes it a landmark on the old Fukuyama–Fuchu highway.
- Can I visit the Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate?
- It opens as the Nobuoka Flat Museum only on event and class days, which are irregular, and some events charge admission. The exterior can be seen from the road at any time.
Basic Information
| Name | Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate (信岡家住宅長屋門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2166 Tode, Shin'ichi-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2008/4/18 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 137 square metres |
| Owner | Nobuoka Jisho Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Open as the Nobuoka Flat Museum during events and classes only (irregular; some events charge admission). Exterior visible from the road |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007134
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nobuoka Family Residence Nagayamon Gate (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/183346
- Fukuyama Tourism and Convention Association: Nobuoka Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://www.fukuyama-kanko.com/travel/tourist/detail.php?id=122
- Nobuoka Flat Museum (Japanese)
- https://nobuoka-museum.jimdofree.com/
Last verified: 2026.10.08
