The Third Store in the West Row
The Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse (赤木家住宅西米蔵, Akagi-ke Jūtaku Nishi Komegura) is a two-storey earthen-walled rice store from the late Meiji period on the west side of the Akagi estate at 972 Hikino in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 March 2006.
Along the west edge, four stores run south without a gap: the west storehouse, the miso store, this rice store, and the warehouse. The Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse abuts the miso store to the north, and the warehouse is built onto its south side.
At 3 and a half bays by 3 bays, with a building area of 49 square metres, it is deeper than its 2-bay neighbours, a squat, solid block in the middle of the line.
Lined with Boards Against the Damp
The roof is gabled and laid with pantiles. On the east side, facing into the compound, a lean-to eave 1 bay deep shelters a pair of heavy tsuchido, plastered fireproof doors.
Inside, both walls and floors are boarded. Keeping rice bales off bare earthen walls this way is a common guard against damp in Japanese rice stores.
Windows open on the west and south faces of both floors. That south face also serves the warehouse next door as its north wall.
Rice in the West, Paddy in the East
The estate has a second grain store at its south-east corner, the east unhulled-rice storehouse, which the Agency for Cultural Affairs says held rice paid as land tax. By their names at least, unhulled grain went to the east side and rice to this store on the west.
The Agency values the Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse as one of the group of stores on the west side, judged as part of a row rather than on its own. It was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country.
Seeing the West Rice Storehouse
The rice store stands on the west side of the property, its doors and eave facing into the compound, so its front can be seen only from inside the grounds.
The residence is a family home and is generally closed to the public, and no opening of the interior has been announced. Photography rules are not published; ask when you visit.
Directions and the terms for visiting the property are on the Akagi Family Residence page.
Q&A
- When was the Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse registered?
- It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) on 2 March 2006, on the same day as the other 15 registered structures of the residence.
- How big is the Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse?
- It is a two-storey earthen-walled store of 3 and a half by 3 bays with a building area of 49 square metres, deeper than the other stores in the west row.
- How is the Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse built inside?
- The walls and floors are boarded, a pair of plastered doors opens on the east side, and there are windows on the west and south faces of both floors.
- How is the Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse connected to the west warehouse?
- The warehouse stands against its south side and has no north wall of its own; it uses the rice store's outer wall instead.
- Can visitors see the Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse?
- Its front faces into the compound, the residence is generally closed, and no interior opening has been announced. See the Akagi Family Residence page for visiting terms.
Basic Information
| Name | Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse (赤木家住宅西米蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 972 Hikino, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2006/03/02 (Heisei 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey earthen-walled storehouse, gabled, pantiled; 3 and a half by 3 bays; building area 49 square metres |
| Owner | Not listed in the ACA database |
| Public Access | No announced interior opening; residence generally closed |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse (赤木家住宅西米蔵)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005316
- Cultural Heritage Online: Akagi Family Residence West Rice Storehouse (赤木家住宅西米蔵)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/118194
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Akagi Family Residence East Rice Storehouse (赤木家住宅東籾蔵)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005319
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse (赤木家住宅西倉庫)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005317
- Tajima no Hyakka Jiten (Tanshin Regional Promotion Fund): Akagi Family Residence (赤木家住宅)
- https://tanshin-kikin.jp/tajima/564
Last verified: 2026.09.26
