About the Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse
The Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse (上月家住宅土蔵, Kōzuki-ke Jūtaku Dozō) is a two-storey earthen-walled storehouse built in 1930 in Bozumachi, Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 25, 2011.
It stands west of the north detached parlor with its ridge running east to west. Built in the Dozo-zukuri manner, it covers 23 square metres and measures 5.8 metres by 3.9 metres.
The roof is a simple gable (Kirizuma-zukuri) in heavy round-and-flat tiles (Hongawarabuki), with the entrance in the gable end (Tsumairi). Since the ridge runs east to west, the gables face east and west, and the door is in the east gable.
Why the Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse Was Registered
The Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic townscape, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as part of the garden scenery.
Rather than hiding the store behind the house, the builders set it beside the north parlor where it could be seen. Its white plaster (Shikkui) walls and tiled roof bring a harder, cleaner surface into a garden otherwise framed by timber rooms.
What to Look For
The Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse rests on a base of laid granite. The walls are white plaster, protected at the bottom by a tall band of vertical boards.
On the east gable, a small roof shelters the entrance and the wall beneath it is finished in black plaster, so the doorway stands out as a dark panel in the white façade.
The double doors are finished in kakego-nuri, with their edges plastered in stepped layers. When the doors close, the steps lock into each other and seal the gap, a detail used on storehouse doors to keep fire out.
Visiting
The Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse is part of a private home and is not open to the public. No public opening had been announced as of October 2026.
It stands at the back of the grounds, west of the north parlor, and cannot be seen from the street. From outside the grounds, only the front gate is visible.
Q&A
- When was the Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse built?
- It was built in 1930 and registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 25, 2011.
- Can I visit the Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse?
- No. It is part of a private home, and no public opening had been announced as of October 2026.
- How big is the Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse?
- It is a 2-storey storehouse of 23 square metres, measuring 5.8 metres by 3.9 metres.
- What kind of roof does the Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse have?
- A gable roof in round-and-flat tiles, with the entrance in the gable end.
- What is special about the doors of the Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse?
- The double doors on the east side have stepped plaster edges (kakego-nuri) that interlock to seal the gap, set in a wall finished in black plaster.
Basic Information
| Name | Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse (上月家住宅土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 37-7 Bozumachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2011/7/25 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 23 square metres (5.8 metres by 3.9 metres; 2-storey earthen-walled storehouse, tiled roof) |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- 上月家住宅土蔵 / Kozuki Family Residence Storehouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008744
- 上月家住宅土蔵 (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/195085
- 上月家住宅土蔵 (City of Himeji, Registered Tangible Cultural Properties)
- https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/0000001717.html
- List of Registered Cultural Properties in Himeji (City of Himeji)
- https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/0000001691.html
Last verified: 2026.10.07
