Brick Stables with a Stair Tower
The Former Kodera Family Stables (旧小寺家厩舎) is brick stables in the manner of a European country house of around 1907 in Sorakuen, Nakayamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on June 17, 1970 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey brick building, partly open to the roof, with a tower and a slate roof and a building area of 188.1 square metres, designated together with a workshop, 66 drawings and a book of estimates and specifications; designation number 01771.
Carriage House Below, Grooms' Rooms Above
The former Kodera Family Stables are two-storey brick stables of the end of the Meiji period in the manner of a European country house, said to have been designed by Kawai Kozo (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The ground floor holds the carriage house and stalls, and the upper floor rooms for the grooms and coachmen.
A spiral stair tower rises at one corner, small gables and dormers break the roof, and stone trims the doors and windows (Agency for Cultural Affairs). A workshop, 66 drawings and a book of estimates and specifications are designated with it.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency notes that few stables of this kind survive.
What to Look For
Look for the spiral stair tower at the corner, the small gables and dormers and the stone trim around the openings (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Kobe City and stands in the city's Sorakuen garden (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Kobe City, the garden is open from 9:00 to 17:00 and closed on Thursdays, except during the azalea and chrysanthemum seasons, and an admission fee is charged. The Hassam house, Kodera stables and Funayakata are introduced together on the Sorakuen page.
Q&A
- When were the stables built?
- Around 1907 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who designed them?
- Kawai Kozo, by tradition.
- How were they used?
- Carriages and horses below, grooms and coachmen above.
- What else is designated with them?
- A workshop, 66 drawings and a book of specifications.
- When was the Former Kodera Family Stables designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On June 17, 1970 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kodera Family Stables (旧小寺家厩舎) |
|---|---|
| Location | Sorakuen, 5-3-1 Nakayamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1970/06/17 (Showa 45) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with a workshop, 66 drawings and specifications) |
| Dimensions | Two-storey brick, partly open, with tower, slate roof, 188.1 m² |
| Owner | Kobe City |
| Public Access | Sorakuen 9:00-17:00, closed Thursdays, admission charged (Kobe City) |
References
- Former Kodera Family Stables (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/2245
- Evaluation of the Management of Sorakuen, 2023 (Kobe City)
- https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/documents/18149/2.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.23
