About the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall
The Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall (永田家住宅棟門及び塀, Nagata-ke Jūtaku Munamon oyobi Hei) is a Munamon gate set in front of the main house of the Nagata Family Residence in Shitori Nagata, Minamiawaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, together with a wall that turns a corner and runs to the entrance of the pond; built in the middle Meiji period (1883 to 1897), it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 26, 2011. It was renovated in 2000.
The gate is a timber structure with a tiled roof and an opening 2.0 meters wide. The wall is a tiled earthen wall 23 meters long. A munamon is a gate carried on two main posts under a single ridged roof; this one spans a single bay and has a gabled roof of hongawara tiles.
Why It Was Registered
The Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits the gate and wall with creating a refined garden space.
Where the nagayamon gate in front of the main house is the face the compound shows to the outside, the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall divides the yard before the main house from the way to the pond and the detached zashiki. The wall runs right to the entrance of the pond, marking the edge between the yard in front of the main house and the pond garden.
Temple-Style Details on a House Gate
On the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall, the two main posts are tied together by a head tie beam and a capping plate. The tie beam and the bracket arms are carved with decorative scrolls, and between the posts sits a large bearing block with a dish-shaped base. These are bracketing techniques usually seen on temple and shrine gates, here applied to a private house.
The wall is a tile-capped earthen wall that leaves the gate and turns at a right angle. By concentrating formal details on a small one-bay gate and pairing it with an earthen wall, the builders gave the yard before the main house a composed frame.
Visiting the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall
The Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall stands inside a private home, within the nagayamon gate and in front of the main house. It is not open to the public and is unlikely to be visible from outside the plot.
The photographs and descriptions in the national database and on the Minamiawaji City cultural property page are the best way to see its details.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- Where is the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall?
- The gate stands in front of the main house of the Nagata Family Residence, and the wall runs from it, turning a corner, to the pond entrance.
- What is special about the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall?
- The single-bay gate has carved head tie beams and bracket arms and a large bearing block between the posts, details borrowed from temple architecture.
- How large is the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall?
- The gate opening is 2.0 meters wide and the wall is 23 meters long.
- When was the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall built?
- The national database dates it to the middle Meiji period, 1883 to 1897. It was renovated in 2000.
- Can I see the Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall?
- It is inside a private home and not open to the public, and it is unlikely to be visible from outside.
Basic Information
| Name | Nagata Family Residence Munamon Gate and Wall |
|---|---|
| Location | 1493 Aza-Yoshinobo, Shitori Nagata, Minamiawaji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered January 26, 2011 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Gate opening 2.0 m; wall 23 m long |
| Owner | Private individual (blank in the national database; per Minamiawaji City) |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: 永田家住宅棟門及び塀 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008543
- Minamiawaji City: 永田家住宅棟門及び塀（むねもんおよびへい）
- https://www.city.minamiawaji.hyogo.jp/bunkaisan/bunkazai/r-90.html
Last verified: 2026.10.04
