About the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate
The Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate (石堂家住宅中門, Ishidō-ke Jūtaku Chūmon) is a small Yakuimon-style gate of the early Meiji period (1868–1882) standing in front of the formal Shikidai entrance of the main house on the Ishido estate in Ogaichi, Sayo Town, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2012.
The Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate runs north to south and spans a single bay 1.3 m wide. Earthen walls extend from it to the north and south, and the gate and walls are registered together.
A swelling roof and light eaves
The gabled (kirizuma) roof is clad in copper (Dōban-buki) and given a gentle upward swell, known as mukuri. The rafters under the eaves are spaced widely apart, a treatment called mabara-daruki that keeps the eaves light. Compared with the 2.6 m Front Gate under heavy tiles, this is the same type of gate at half the width, with a much lighter roof.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that, though small, the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate and its walls create a refined garden space. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to look for
The walls on either side are worth a close look. Their height changes between the main-house side and the south side, and part of the wall is a see-through screen (Sukibei). Some sections block the view and others let it pass, so the court in front of the formal entrance is divided without being shut off.
Guests entering by the Front Gate probably passed through the Middle Gate on their way to the formal entrance. It marks the middle step in a sequence of outer gate, inner gate and doorway leading up to the main house.
Visiting the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate
The Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate stands inside a private property and is not open to the public.
Because it is inside the Front Gate and South Wall, we have not confirmed whether it can be seen from the road. Do not peer in through the gate, and take photographs only from the public road.
Q&A
- Where is the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate?
- In front of the formal entrance of the main house, inside the Front Gate, with earthen walls running north and south.
- When was the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Meiji period (1868–1882).
- What is distinctive about the roof of the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate?
- It is a gabled copper roof with a gentle upward swell, and its rafters are widely spaced to keep the eaves light.
- Why is the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 2012 for its contribution to the historic landscape; with its walls it creates a refined garden space.
- Can I see the Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate?
- It stands inside a private property and is not open to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Ishido Family Residence Middle Gate (石堂家住宅中門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 823 Ogaichi, Sayo Town, Sayo District, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered in 2012 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 1.3 m wide, with earthen walls on both sides |
| 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: 石堂家住宅中門
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009199
- Cultural Heritage Online: 石堂家住宅中門
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/229072
Last verified: 2026.10.01
