About the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate
The Ishido Family Residence Front Gate (石堂家住宅表門, Ishidō-ke Jūtaku Omotemon) is a Yakuimon-style gate of the end of the Edo period (1830–1868) at the middle of the south side of the Ishido estate in Ogaichi, Sayo Town, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2012.
The Ishido Family Residence Front Gate runs east to west and spans a single bay 2.6 m wide. It has side wings to the left and right, and a small wicket door (Kugurido) hangs in the west wing. The gabled (kirizuma) roof is laid with traditional round-and-flat tiles. The gate was altered around 1987.
A family crest at the front door
Decorative tiles sit at both ends of the ridge. The swallowtail butterfly crest of the Ishido family appears on the round ends of the eave tiles and on the frog-leg struts (Kaerumata) that carry the load above the beams. Look up and you will see the same crest repeated in both clay and wood.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs says the gate's thick posts and generous tiled roof lend dignity to the estate. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property for its contribution to the historic landscape. Of the nine registered structures, it is the only one the Agency describes as roofed in round-and-flat tiles; the guest wing, storehouse, barn, West Gate and walls all use pantiles.
What to look for
A yakuimon stands on two main posts at the front and two support posts behind, with the ridge set off the line of the main posts. From the street, the roof seems large compared with the posts. That proportion, combined with the heavy tiles, gives the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate its weight.
The South Wall runs east and west from the gate on a base of fitted stone. Gate and wall together form the south face of the estate.
Visiting the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate
The Ishido Family Residence Front Gate belongs to a private home, and you cannot pass through it.
Because it faces the south edge of the property, the gate is seen from the road on the south side (we have not checked the road on site). The ridge tiles and the butterfly crests on the struts are easier to see from a few steps back. Take photographs only from the public road and avoid lingering in front of the gate.
Q&A
- When was the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the end of the Edo period (1830–1868). It was altered around 1987.
- What type of gate is the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate?
- A single-bay yakuimon 2.6 m wide, with side wings and a wicket door in the west wing, under a gabled roof of round-and-flat tiles.
- What crest appears on the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate?
- A swallowtail butterfly, on the eave tile ends and on the frog-leg struts.
- Why is the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 2012 for its contribution to the historic landscape; its thick posts and generous tiled roof give the estate dignity.
- Can I visit the Ishido Family Residence Front Gate?
- You cannot pass through it, as it belongs to a private home. The exterior is seen from the road on the south side.
Basic Information
| Name | Ishido Family Residence Front Gate (石堂家住宅表門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 823 Ogaichi, Sayo Town, Sayo District, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered in 2012 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2.6 m wide, with side wings |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private home; exterior from outside the grounds) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 石堂家住宅表門
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009198
- Cultural Heritage Online: 石堂家住宅表門
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/201031
Last verified: 2026.10.01
