A large store in the south garden
The rice storehouse of the Otoshi residence stands in the south garden of the compound in Shinnobe, Befu, set at its centre and leaning slightly toward the grain storehouse. Of the storehouses on the estate it is comparatively large.
It measures five bays by two and a half, with a sangawara pantile gable roof and its entrance on the long side (hirairi). Building area is 51 square metres. The lower walls on either side of the entrance are finished in namako-kabe, a lattice of square tiles bedded in raised white plaster that resists damp and fire, the kind of surface reserved for a store meant to protect a valuable crop.
A hint that it is older than the main house
The rice storehouse was registered on 18 November 1999 among the nine Otoshi buildings. One detail sets it slightly apart from the rest: the axis of its ridge is subtly offset from the others, and this has been read as a sign that the store may be older than the main house of 1835.
If so, the building would be one of the earlier survivors on the site, kept and reused as the compound grew around it. That possibility is offered cautiously rather than as settled fact, but it is part of what makes the store worth close attention.
What to look for
The namako-kabe at the entrance is the feature to study: the diamond grid of tiles over thick plaster is both practical and handsome, and it marks the store as a building of some care. Compare its ridge line with those of the neighbouring buildings to see the slight turn that prompted the dating question.
The residence is privately owned and not open for regular visits. The store sits within the south garden, so it is best appreciated as part of the compound's plan rather than as a separate attraction.
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Q&A
- What is namako-kabe?
- A wall of square tiles set in a diamond grid over raised white plaster, resistant to damp and fire.
- Why might it be older than the main house?
- Its ridge axis is slightly offset from the other buildings, which some read as a sign of earlier origin.
- How large is it?
- About 51 square metres, comparatively large among the estate's storehouses.
- Can it be visited?
- No; it stands in the private south garden and is not open for regular visits.
Basic Information
| Name | Otoshi Family Residence Rice Storehouse (Otoshike Jutaku Komegura) |
|---|---|
| Location | 881 Shinnobe, Befu-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Category | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Registered | 18 November 1999 |
| Structure | Wooden, one storey, sangawara-tiled gable roof, side entrance, namako-kabe lower walls; building area approx. 51 sq m; 1 building |
| Period | Edo period, 18th to 19th century |
| Access | Part of a private residence; not open for regular visits |
References
- Kakogawa City — Otoshi Family Residence, nine Registered Tangible Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.kakogawa.lg.jp/soshikikarasagasu/kyouiku/kakuka/kyoikushidobu/bunkazai_cyosa/bunkazai/kunitourokukaisetu/kunitourokuootosikejuutaku.html
- Kakogawa City — List of designated and registered cultural properties
- https://www.city.kakogawa.lg.jp/soshikikarasagasu/kyouiku/kakuka/kyoikushidobu/bunkazai_cyosa/bunkazai/siteitourokubunkazaiitiran20230320.html
- Kakogawa City — Registered cultural properties, individual entries
- https://www.city.kakogawa.lg.jp/soshikikarasagasu/kyouiku/kakuka/kyoikushidobu/bunkazai_cyosa/bunkazai/kunitourokukaisetu/index.html
- Agency for Cultural Affairs — Cultural Properties
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/
Last verified: 2026.07.04