About the Seishikan Service Gate
The Seishikan (Former Tomita Family Residence) Service Gate (静思館（旧冨田家住宅）勝手門, Seishikan Kattemon) is a tiled timber gate built in 1934 in Ueno, Inagawa Town, Hyogo Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2004.
On Tomita Kumasaku's estate it links the southwest corner of the Main House, at the earth-floored end, with the southeast corner of the Tool Room. It is 4.2 m wide. Katte refers to the kitchen and service side of a house: the Front Gate received guests, while this gate was used for everyday comings and goings.
Why the Seishikan Service Gate was registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs registered the Seishikan Service Gate for its contribution to the historic landscape. It separates the forecourt from the back yard, marking the line between the front and back of the estate.
Its red Bengara timber and yellow plaster match the surrounding buildings. It is a small gate squeezed between two buildings, but it closes the west corner of the forecourt and completes the view of the estate from the Front Gate.
What to look for at the Seishikan Service Gate
The gabled pantile roof of the Seishikan Service Gate tucks its ridge under the eaves of the Main House. Rather than standing apart, the gate slides in beneath the house's roof, and that junction is worth a look.
Double plank doors hang in the middle, with short walls to either side. Above the doors is a wooden lattice, so even when closed the gate lets a little of the back yard show through. Compared with the massive Front Gate, it is the same color scheme scaled down for daily use.
Visiting the Seishikan Service Gate
The Seishikan Service Gate is at the far west of the forecourt, to the left of the Main House's earth-floored entrance. On opening days you may be able to pass through it to see the Water Tower and the storehouses in the back yard; follow the caretaker's directions.
Opening days and access are on the Seishikan page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Seishikan (Former Tomita Family Residence) Service Gate
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- Where is the Seishikan Service Gate?
- Between the southwest corner of the Main House and the southeast corner of the Tool Room, dividing the forecourt from the back yard.
- What does the name of the Seishikan Service Gate mean?
- It is called Kattemon in Japanese; katte means the kitchen or service side of a house. It was the everyday gate, as opposed to the Front Gate for guests.
- How big is the Seishikan Service Gate?
- It is a tiled timber gate 4.2 m wide, with double plank doors in the middle and short walls on each side.
- Why is the Seishikan Service Gate a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 2004 for its contribution to the historic landscape, dividing front and back in the same finish as the buildings around it.
- What is unusual about the roof of the Seishikan Service Gate?
- Its gabled pantile roof tucks its ridge under the eaves of the Main House.
Basic Information
| Name | Seishikan (Former Tomita Family Residence) Service Gate (静思館（旧冨田家住宅）勝手門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 22 Ueno Machimawari, Inagawa Town, Kawabe District, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered in 2004 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 4.2 m wide |
| Owner | Inagawa Town |
| Public Access | Open to the public as Seishikan (free; closed Mondays) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 静思館（旧冨田家住宅）勝手門
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004169
- Cultural Heritage Online: 静思館（旧冨田家住宅）勝手門
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/195169
- Inagawa Town: Inagawa Town Seishikan
- https://www.town.inagawa.lg.jp/soshiki/1036/gyomu/1/seishikan/6710.html
- Inagawa Town: Seishikan leaflet (PDF)
- https://www.town.inagawa.lg.jp/material/files/group/37/seishikan2.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.01
