Registered Tangible Cultural Properties · Hyogo

Kawanishi City Local Museum (Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse)

Hirayasu Inui Storehouse: The 1919 Northwest Storehouse in Kawanishi

The 1919 Inui storehouse in the northwest corner of the Hirayasu residence at Kawanishi City Local Museum, joined to the North Storehouse by a roofed passage.

Designation Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

Location Hyogo

About the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse

The Kawanishi City Local Museum (Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse) (川西市郷土館（旧平安家住宅乾蔵）) is an earthen-walled storehouse of 1918 to 1919 in Gezaicho, Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on May 7, 1997. It stands in the northwest corner of the estate, and Inui is an old word for northwest.

It has a tiled roof and a building area of 29 m². The Agency for Cultural Affairs commentary calls it a 2-storey storehouse, while the structure field of the same database says single-storey timber, so the two entries disagree. The Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse runs north to south and forms the western row with the West Storehouse.

Four Storehouses Named for Directions

Several Hirayasu storehouses take their names from where they stand: Tatsumi in the southeast corner and the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse in the northwest, alongside the North and West storehouses. The names come from the old practice of marking directions with the twelve zodiac signs; inui lies between the dog and the boar, tatsumi between the dragon and the snake.

Tatsumi and Inui sit at opposite corners of the plot. Anchoring the southeast and northwest corners with storehouses, across the courtyard from each other, gives the estate its frame.

Plain Walls, Plaster Cornices and a Link to the North Storehouse

The Inui Storehouse has a gabled tiled roof and Ōkabe walls, with the posts buried inside the plaster. The Agency for Cultural Affairs calls the work standard, and it is a straightforward storehouse; like the North and West storehouses, its eaves are trimmed with Nokijabara cornices.

What sets the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse apart is its link to the North Storehouse. The space between the two is floored and covered by a small roof so that they work as one. Add the fact that the canopy in front of the North Storehouse is continuous with the corridor from the main house, and it becomes clear that you could walk from the house to the northern storehouses under cover.

Why It Was Registered

The Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse was registered as a structure that serves as a model of design, under number 28-0016, on May 7, 1997, together with 13 other Hirayasu structures.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs calls it a storehouse of a large Taisho-era residence and an important building for understanding the estate layout. Its value lies less in itself than in its link to the North Storehouse and its place at the northwest corner.

Visiting the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse

The Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse is at the northwest corner of the Hirayasu house at the Kawanishi City Local Museum. Some Hirayasu storehouses are used as exhibition rooms, but we could not confirm from official sources how the interior of this one is open to visitors (checked October 2026).

The floored, roofed link to the North Storehouse is the first thing to look for. Ask at reception about photography. Opening days, admission and directions are on the Kawanishi City Local Museum page.

📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo: Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kawanishi City Local Museum (Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse); [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]

Q&A

QWhat does Inui mean in the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse?: AInui is an old word for northwest; the storehouse is named for its place in the northwest corner of the estate.

QHow many storeys does the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse have?: AThe Agency for Cultural Affairs commentary says 2, but its structure field says single-storey, so the records disagree.

QHow is the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse linked to the North Storehouse?: AThe space between them is floored and covered by a small roof so that the two work as one.

QWhen was the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse registered?: AOn May 7, 1997, under registration number 28-0016.

QCan I go inside the Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse?: AOfficial sources do not say how the interior is open; the exterior can be seen within the Kawanishi City Local Museum grounds (checked October 2026).

Basic Information

Name	Kawanishi City Local Museum (Former Hirayasu Family Residence Inui Storehouse)
Location	4-1 Gezaicho, Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture
Designation	Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure)
Year Designated	1997 (registered)
Quantity	1 building
Dimensions	Building area 29 m² (structure field: single-storey timber; commentary: 2-storey storehouse; tiled roof)
Owner	Kawanishi City
Public Access	Open (Kawanishi City Local Museum, admission 300 yen)