About the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate
The Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate (梶原家住宅中門, Kajiwara-ke Jūtaku Chūmon) is a Taisho-era (1912 to 1925) udekimon-type gate at the entrance to the tea quarter of the Kajiwara estate in Oshio, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
The Middle Gate stands between the main house and the sand privy attached to the inner waiting bench, with its ridge running east to west. Its opening is 1.2 meters wide.
Built From Cedar Logs
The posts of the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate rise from tall foundation stones, braced by a lintel (magusa) that in turn carries the ridge beam. The timber is round cedar log, left unsquared.
The eaves use a single layer of widely spaced rafters, alternating bamboo and log. Look up and you see thin bamboo and thicker log taking turns along the underside of the roof.
The gabled roof is covered in cypress bark (hiwadabuki), with two courses of flat noshi tiles and a capping tile along the ridge. The doors are paired paneled karado. The Agency for Cultural Affairs calls the design light and nimble.
A Threshold in the Tea Garden
In a tea garden, a middle gate traditionally divides the outer garden from the inner one, and guests are met by the host here before going further. Standing between the main house and the tea buildings, the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate appears to play that role.
Compare it with the estate's front gate on the street, with its gently curving tiled roof and sturdy posts. The middle gate is all log and bark. The family used one vocabulary for the gate facing the town and another for the gate inside the garden. It holds its registration as a contributor to the historic landscape.
Seeing the Middle Gate
The Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate is part of a private home and is not open to the public. It stands inside the compound and is not expected to be visible from the street (not verified on site).
From outside the grounds, only the front gate and the boundary wall can be seen. The Kajiwara Family Residence (Nishi-Kajiwara) page explains how to get there.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- Where is the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate?
- Between the main house and the sand privy of the inner waiting bench, with its ridge running east to west.
- What type of gate is the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate?
- An udekimon-type gate with a 1.2-meter opening and a gabled cypress-bark roof.
- What is special about the rafters of the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate?
- Bamboo and log rafters alternate, spaced widely apart.
- When was the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate built?
- In the Taisho era (1912 to 1925). It was registered in 2009.
- Can I see the Kajiwara Family Residence Middle Gate?
- No. It lies inside a private residence that is not open to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Kajiwara Family Residence Middle 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 1.2 m |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private home; exterior from the street) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs database: 梶原家住宅中門
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007899
- Himeji City: 梶原家住宅（西梶原）中門
- https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/0000001792.html
Last verified: 2026.09.30
