A tiny shed south of the waiting house
The Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed (平尾家住宅灰小屋) in Morio, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, is the tiny shed for storing ash from the hearths, built in the late Meiji era and repaired in the later Showa era, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on March 7, 2008 (number 28-0320).
The Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed is a tiny shed south of the waiting house. Ash from the hearths was a useful material for fertiliser, washing and dyeing, and because it could still hold embers it was kept in a clay-walled shed away from the house.
Clay walls on a block base
The Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed measures 1.5 metres by 1.3 metres, with a building area of 1.9 m², under a gabled roof on a north-south ridge that is now covered in sheet metal.
A sill on a concrete-block base carries the posts, tied by beam and plate. The sides and back are clay, the whole front is open, and inside the posts are buried in clay as well.
Fire safety in miniature
Burying even the posts in clay shows that the shed was built with fire in mind. It is one of the smallest buildings on the estate, and its inclusion in the registration says much about how completely the household fabric survives.
Visiting
The Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed is north of the river, not open and not visible from the road.
The story of the estate, what can be seen from the road and directions are on the Hirao Family Residence page.
Q&A
- Where is the Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed?
- North of the Morio River, south of the waiting house.
- When was the Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed registered as a cultural property?
- On March 7, 2008, as Registered Tangible Cultural Property number 28-0320. It dates from the late Meiji era, repaired in the later Showa era.
- What was the Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed for?
- Storing ash from the hearths; even the posts inside are buried in clay against fire.
- How big is the Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed?
- 1.5 metres by 1.3 metres, with a building area of 1.9 m².
- Can visitors see the Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed?
- No; it is closed and not visible from the road.
Basic Information
| Name | Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed (平尾家住宅灰小屋) |
|---|---|
| Location | 958 Ando, Morio, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 28-0320 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2008/03/07 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, sheet-metal roof; building area 1.9 m² |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00006896
- Cultural Heritage Online — Hirao Family Residence Ash Shed
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/142658
- Tajima Encyclopedia (Tanshin Regional Promotion Fund) — Hirao Family Residence
- https://tanshin-kikin.jp/tajima/568
Last verified: 2026.10.02
