About the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse
The Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse (梶原家住宅米蔵, Kajiwara-ke Jūtaku Komegura) is a late Meiji-era earthen storehouse northwest of the main house on the Kajiwara estate in Oshio, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture; partly converted into an office in 1950, it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
The Rice Storehouse is a long, narrow two-storey dozo-zukuri building running north to south, 12 by 3.9 meters, with a building area of 48 square meters.
From Rice Store to Office
Built to hold rice, the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse had its southern half converted into an office in 1950. The storehouse door toward the north end keeps its canopy of round tiles (hongawarabuki), so the north still reads as a kura and the south as a workplace.
The roof is gabled and covered in round tiles. The walls are sheathed in tall vertical boards (tateita-bari) over their lower part, with white shikkui plaster above: timber to protect the base, white plaster to catch the eye.
Framing the Forecourt
What makes the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse significant is where it stands. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that it faces the north detached parlor and gives the forecourt its definition.
Pass through the front gate from the street and a forecourt opens before the main house. Its west side is closed by the long wall of the Rice Storehouse; facing it stands the Taisho-era north detached parlor. A guest annex on one side and the family's store of wealth on the other: together they form the public face of the estate. The storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
Seeing the Rice Storehouse
The Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse is part of a private home and is not open to the public. It stands on the west side of the forecourt, fairly close to the street, but how much of it shows over the wall has not been checked on site.
Directions are given on the Kajiwara Family Residence (Nishi-Kajiwara) page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- When was the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse built?
- In the late Meiji era. Its southern half was converted into an office in 1950.
- How big is the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse?
- It is a two-storey earthen storehouse measuring 12 by 3.9 meters, with a building area of 48 square meters.
- What do the walls of the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse look like?
- Tall vertical boards cover the lower part, with white plaster above.
- How does the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse relate to the north detached parlor?
- The two face each other across the forecourt, framing the estate's front garden.
- Can I visit the Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse?
- No. As part of a family residence, it is closed to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Kajiwara Family Residence Rice Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 457 Miyanomoto, Oshiocho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2009 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 48 m² (12 m by 3.9 m) |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private home; exterior from the street) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs database: 梶原家住宅米蔵
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007904
- Himeji City: 梶原家住宅（西梶原）米蔵
- https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/0000001813.html
Last verified: 2026.09.30
