A Timber Warehouse That Leans on Its Neighbour
The Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse (赤木家住宅西倉庫, Akagi-ke Jūtaku Nishi Sōko) is a single-storey timber storehouse 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.
It is built against the south side of the rice store and closes the southern end of the row of stores that begins with the west storehouse. The west gate and a storage shed follow further south.
It measures 3 bays by 2 bays, with a building area of 29 square metres, under a gabled roof of pantiles.
No North Wall of Its Own
The Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse has no north wall. On that side it simply uses the outer wall of the rice store.
A light timber building has been fixed onto a thick earthen one, and the two read as a single mass. Sharing walls like this is a large part of why the west row looks unbroken.
The remaining three walls all have openings, and the west wall is boarded. At the end of a line of closed, fireproof stores, this is the open building, easy to get in and out of.
A Truss Under the Tiles
The roof is framed with timber trusses. A truss builds its strength from triangles, a Western way of spanning a roof, quite unlike the stacked posts and beams of the traditional wagoya roof frame.
Finding trusses in a farm outbuilding of the late Meiji years is the quiet surprise of the Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse, and one you would never guess from outside. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes the truss and describes the building as part of the group of stores on the west side. It was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country.
Seeing the West Warehouse
The warehouse stands on the west side of the property between the rice store and the west gate. The trusses are inside, so seeing them means entering the building.
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 Warehouse 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.
- Why does the Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse have no north wall?
- It stands against the south side of the west rice storehouse and uses that building's outer wall as its own north wall.
- How is the roof of the Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse built?
- It is a gabled, pantiled roof framed with timber trusses, a Western method of building a roof out of triangles.
- How large is the Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse?
- It is a single-storey timber building of 3 by 2 bays with a building area of 29 square metres.
- Can visitors see the Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse?
- The residence is generally closed and no interior opening has been announced. Check the Akagi Family Residence page for the terms of a visit.
Basic Information
| Name | Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse (赤木家住宅西倉庫) |
|---|---|
| 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 | Single-storey timber, gabled, pantiled, timber truss roof frame; 3 by 2 bays; building area 29 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 Warehouse (赤木家住宅西倉庫)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005317
- Cultural Heritage Online: Akagi Family Residence West Warehouse (赤木家住宅西倉庫)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/151925
- 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
- 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
