About the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall
The Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall (蘆田家住宅石垣及び塀, Ashida-ke Jūtaku Ishigaki oyobi Hei) is a late Edo-period stone retaining wall and tiled earthen wall in Higashiashida, Aogakicho, Tanba City, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2006.
The stone wall was built to hold back the soil along the west side of the plot. It stands 2.5 m high and runs 34 m along the west face; at its southern end it turns east at a right angle and continues for 9 m along the south side, where an earthen wall with a tiled coping sits on top.
Why the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall was registered
The Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall was registered, under number 28-0245, as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the nation. It is the last of the estate's five consecutive registrations.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs regards it as an essential element of the view of the estate's front. The Ashida Family Residence faces west, and so does its main house; the west wall is the base of that frontage, the plinth on which the thatched house and tiled shed are seen.
What to look for at the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall
Compare the masonry. According to the Agency's description, the first 7 m from the west end of the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall is rough fieldstone work, and the rest is random-coursed masonry. Look for the change in the faces of the stones and in how the joints run.
Along the south side, the tiled earthen wall continues above the stone. The database gives its length as 9.0 m, matching the southern run of the retaining wall, so on this side a wall of earth sits directly on a wall of stone.
The Higashiashida community group Egohanaen counts the stone walls, alongside the thatched farmhouse and a lotus pond, among the parts of the rural landscape it works to keep. The Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall is valued as part of the village scene as well as part of the estate.
Visiting the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall
The Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall lies on the outer edge of the estate and can be viewed from the west, the front of the property. This is a private home, so do not climb the stonework or touch the earthen wall.
If you visit while the café in the main house is open, you can also see how the estate sits on its terrace from the house side. Directions are on the Ashida Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall
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Q&A
- When was the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall built?
- In the late Edo period. The Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2006.
- How large is the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall?
- The stone wall is 2.5 m high and runs 34 m along the west face, then turns east for 9 m along the south. The earthen wall is 9.0 m long.
- What masonry is used in the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall?
- The first 7 m from the west end is rough fieldstone work, and the remainder is random-coursed masonry.
- What kind of wall stands on the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall?
- An earthen wall with a tiled coping, built on top of the southern section of the stone wall.
- Can visitors see the Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall?
- Yes, from the west front of the estate. It is part of a private home, so please do not climb the stones or touch the wall.
Basic Information
| Name | Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall |
|---|---|
| Location | 981 Higashiashida, Aogakicho, Tanba City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2006 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 site |
| Dimensions | Stone wall: 2.5 m high, 34 m long; earthen wall: 9.0 m long |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Exterior only; visible from around the estate |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 蘆田家住宅石垣及び塀 (Ashida Family Residence Stone Wall and Earthen Wall)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005335
- Tamba City: National Designated, Selected and Registered Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.tamba.lg.jp/soshiki/shakaikyoikubunkazaika/gyomuannai/7/1/1650.html
- Tamba Shimbun: Community revitalization in Higashiashida (11 August 2022)
- https://tanba.jp/2022/08/%E7%9B%9B%E3%82%93%E3%81%AA%E5%9C%B0%E5%9F%9F%E3%81%8A%E3%81%93%E3%81%97%E3%80%80%E7%94%B0%E8%88%8E%E3%82%92%E5%8A%9B%E5%BC%B7%E3%81%8F%E7%99%BA%E4%BF%A1%E3%80%80%E9%80%A3%E8%BC%89%E3%81%BE/
Last verified: 2026.10.01
