About the Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate
The Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate (梶原家住宅表門, Kajiwara-ke Jūtaku Omotemon) is a Taisho-era (1912 to 1925) munamon gate with flanking walls on the northern edge of the Kajiwara estate in Oshio, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
The Front Gate faces north, set back a little from the street. Its single opening is 2.2 meters wide.
A Gently Swelling Roof
The gabled pantiled roof of the Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate has a slight upward swell, known as mukuri, that softens its profile. The eaves use a single layer of widely spaced rafters, which keeps them light.
The posts are gohei-bashira, rectangular in section, braced by a lintel (magusa) that carries a pair of board doors. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits the gate with giving the estate a calm, composed frontage.
Side Walls and a Wicket
Side walls (sodebei) extend on both sides: board-clad at the base, earthen above and capped with pantiles. The west wall has a small wicket opening, so people could come and go without swinging open the main doors.
The Himeji Film Commission notes the bamboo inuyarai guards placed in front of the gate and finds the wall line picturesque. On an estate whose interior is almost entirely hidden, the Front Gate and its walls are the parts that neighbors and visitors actually see. Its registration rests on its contribution to the historic landscape.
Seeing the Front Gate
The Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate can be seen from the street to the north. It belongs to a private home, so please do not step inside the gate, and take photographs only from the public road.
It is a few minutes' walk east of Oshio Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway. Full directions are on the Kajiwara Family Residence (Nishi-Kajiwara) page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- Can the Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate be seen from outside?
- Yes. It faces the street to the north and can be viewed from there, but visitors may not go through it.
- When was the Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate built?
- In the Taisho era (1912 to 1925). It was registered in 2009.
- What type of gate is the Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate?
- A single-bay munamon with a 2.2-meter opening and a gently swelling gabled pantiled roof.
- What are the side walls of the Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate like?
- Board-clad at the base, earthen above and pantiled, with a wicket opening in the west wall.
- How do I get to the Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate?
- It is a few minutes' walk east of Oshio Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway.
Basic Information
| Name | Kajiwara Family Residence Front Gate |
|---|---|
| Location | 457 Miyanomoto, Oshiocho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2009 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Opening width 2.2 m, with side walls |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private home; exterior from the street) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs database: 梶原家住宅表門
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007910
- Himeji City: 梶原家住宅（西梶原）表門
- https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/0000001812.html
- Himeji Film Commission: 塩業で栄えた町
- https://www.himeji-kanko.jp/fc/article.php?eid=00166
Last verified: 2026.09.30
