About the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall
The Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall (東多田夢勝庵裏門及び北塀, Higashitada Mushōan Uramon oyobi Kitabei) is a late Edo-period roofed earthen wall enclosing the north-east corner of a former village headman's estate, with a Yakuimon rear gate set into it, in Higashitada 2-chome, Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2019.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late Edo period, 1751 to 1830 in its year field. It records the gate as a tiled timber structure with an opening of 2.0 metres, and the wall as a tiled earthen wall 18 metres long in total.
A Wall That Curves Around the Corner
The North Wall of the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall is a Tsuijibei on a base of random rubble, its face finished in Shikkui plaster and its top capped with pantiles. Random rubble means unshaped field stones fitted together, so an uneven line of stone runs along the foot of the white wall.
The wall begins at the north end of the east side of the plot and swings gradually round to run halfway along the north side. It turns the corner in a curve rather than a right angle, and that bend is the thing to look for.
The Rear Gate
The Rear Gate of the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall stands partway along the North Wall. It is a yakuimon with a gabled pantiled roof and an opening of 2.0 metres, twice the width of the estate's inner Roji Gate (1.0 metre).
In a yakuimon the roof rests on the main gateposts and on a second pair of posts set behind them. It is a formal type also used for samurai houses and temples, and choosing it for a back gate on the road suggests the family wanted even the rear entrance to look respectable.
A Solid Face to the Back Road
The Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The agency says that, facing the road along the back of the plot, it gives the rear of the estate a solid, dignified presence.
The formal front of Higashitada Mushoan is the gatehouse to the south-east. For anyone walking the road to the north, though, this wall and gate are the face of the estate, and together with the Storehouse in the north-west corner they shape its back.
Seeing the Rear Gate and North Wall
The Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall is part of an estate owned by a private company, and no public opening has been announced (checked October 2026). Visitors cannot go through the gate into the grounds.
Since the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall faces the road behind the plot, it is, with the gatehouse, one of the two parts easiest to see from outside. The rubble base and the curve of the wall should both be visible from the road. Please photograph from the public road only and be considerate of neighbouring homes. Directions are on the Higashitada Mushoan page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall
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Q&A
- When was the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late Edo period, between 1751 and 1830.
- What is the wall of the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall like?
- A roofed earthen wall on a random-rubble base, plastered and capped with pantiles, 18 metres long in total. It curves from the north end of the east side to the middle of the north side.
- What kind of gate is the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall's Rear Gate?
- A yakuimon with a gabled pantiled roof and an opening of 2.0 metres.
- Why is the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 2019 for its contribution to the historic landscape. The agency says it gives the rear of the estate a solid presence on the road behind it.
- Can I see the Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall from outside?
- Yes. It faces the road behind the plot and can be seen from the public road. The estate is privately owned with no public opening, so the grounds cannot be entered.
Basic Information
| Name | Higashitada Mushoan Rear Gate and North Wall (東多田夢勝庵裏門及び北塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 647-1 Higashitada 2-chome, Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2019 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Gate opening 2.0 m; wall 18 m long in total |
| Owner | Plantec Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | No public opening (company-owned; exterior visible from the road) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): 東多田夢勝庵裏門及び北塀
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00012778
- Cultural Heritage Online: 東多田夢勝庵裏門及び北塀
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/403961
- Kawanishi City: List of Designated Cultural Properties in the City
- https://www.city.kawanishi.hyogo.jp/kyoiku/s_2862.html
Last verified: 2026.10.02
