Registered Tangible Cultural Properties · Hyogo

Kawanishi City Local Museum (Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn)

Hirayasu West Barn: The Smallest of 15 Registered Hirayasu Buildings

A tiny 1919 barn of 9.4 m² fitted between two storehouses at the Hirayasu residence in Kawanishi City Local Museum, with sliding doors across its whole front.

Designation Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

Location Hyogo

About the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn

The Kawanishi City Local Museum (Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn) (川西市郷土館（旧平安家住宅西納屋）) is a single-storey timber barn of 1918 to 1919 in Gezaicho, Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on May 7, 1997. It is a small shed built in between the Inui and West storehouses on the west side of the Hirayasu estate.

It has a tiled roof and a building area of 9.4 m², the smallest of the 15 Hirayasu structures and about the size of a six-mat room. Even so it was registered as a building in its own right, on the same day as the storehouses around it.

A Shed Fitted Between Two Storehouses

The western edge of the Hirayasu estate runs, from south to north, annex, West Storehouse and Inui Storehouse. The Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn fills the gap between the West and Inui storehouses, looking less like a separate building than an addition squeezed between the two.

Seen from the courtyard, it is the one lightweight structure in a line of thick-walled storehouses, and that contrast of heavy and light gives the west side its rhythm.

Sliding Doors the Full Width of the Front

The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the West Barn as extremely simple in construction. Inside is one undivided room, and the front is filled by sliding doors that run the full width of the building.

Slide them apart and almost the whole front opens, which suits a store for things taken in and out often and makes the most of a tiny floor. Standing in front of the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn, notice that the doors are nearly as wide as the building itself.

Why It Was Registered

The Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn was registered as a structure that serves as a model of design, under number 28-0017, on May 7, 1997, together with 13 other Hirayasu structures.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that, plain as it is beside the heavy storehouses, it is necessary to the composition as one of the group of buildings enclosing the courtyard. It was registered for its place in the estate rather than for its own design.

Visiting the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn

The Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn is on the west side of the Hirayasu house at the Kawanishi City Local Museum, between the West and Inui storehouses. Official sources do not say whether the interior is open, so expect to view it mainly from outside (checked October 2026).

Looking along the western row from the courtyard shows best how small it is and where it sits. 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 West Barn); [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]

Q&A

QWhere is the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn?: AOn the west side of the Hirayasu estate, built in between the Inui and West storehouses.

QHow big is the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn?: AIt has a building area of 9.4 m², the smallest of the 15 Hirayasu structures.

QWhat is distinctive about the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn?: AIt is a single room of extremely simple construction, with sliding doors across the full width of the front.

QWhen was the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn registered?: AOn May 7, 1997, under registration number 28-0017.

QCan I go inside the Former Hirayasu Family Residence West Barn?: AOfficial sources do not say whether 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 West Barn)
Location	4-1 Gezaicho, Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture
Designation	Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure)
Year Designated	1997 (registered)
Quantity	1 building
Dimensions	Building area 9.4 m² (single-storey timber, tiled roof)
Owner	Kawanishi City
Public Access	Open (Kawanishi City Local Museum, admission 300 yen)