The front gate on the east side
The Tanaka Family Residence East Gate (田中家住宅東門, Tanaka-ke Jūtaku Higashimon) in Tonouchi-chō, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, is the main gate of the Tanaka compound, set midway along the eastern edge of the plot around 1887 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on September 10, 2010 (number 28-0458). The outer wall runs north from it, and an unregistered detached wing is joined to its south side.
The Tanaka Family Residence East Gate is the formal entrance to the property and the one place where the long line of the outer wall opens up. It was registered with the main house, storehouse and outer wall as a group of four.
Single-board zelkova doors
The gate is a small single-story timber building, 3.1 by 2.9 meters (the Ketayuki and Harima spans), under a gabled roof of pantiles. Amagasaki City records its footprint as 8.74 square meters.
The opening is 2.1 meters wide and is closed by a pair of doors, each made from a single board of zelkova. Boards that wide are the first thing you notice when you stand in front of it. For everyday comings and goings there is a small wicket door in the narrow wall section on the north side.
The walls are finished in lime plaster and vertical boarding, deliberately matched to the outer wall. The Tanaka Family Residence East Gate was repaired in 1980.
Designed as one with the wall
The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the gate's finish is coordinated with the outer wall, and in its description of the wall it says the eastern stretch adds character to the approach to this gate. Walking along the wall, the white-and-dark band runs on until it breaks for the gate, which is why the gate makes most sense seen together with the wall rather than on its own.
Visiting
The Tanaka Family Residence East Gate faces the street on the eastern side of the plot and can be seen from the road. Beyond it is a private home; Amagasaki City states that the property is not open to the public (as of October 2026). Please do not step through the gate or look past the doors.
The background of the compound, what can be seen from outside and directions are on the Tanaka Family Residence (Amagasaki) page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Tanaka Family Residence East Gate
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Q&A
- Where is the Tanaka Family Residence East Gate?
- On the eastern edge of the Tanaka Family Residence plot in Tonouchi-chō 3-chōme, Amagasaki City, about halfway along.
- When was the Tanaka Family Residence East Gate registered?
- On September 10, 2010, as Registered Tangible Cultural Property number 28-0458. It dates to around 1887.
- How big is the Tanaka Family Residence East Gate?
- It is a single-story timber gate measuring 3.1 by 2.9 meters, with a 2.1-meter opening.
- What is special about the doors of the Tanaka Family Residence East Gate?
- The pair of doors is made from single boards of zelkova, and a small wicket door is set into the north wall.
- Can visitors see the Tanaka Family Residence East Gate?
- Yes, from the street. The property beyond is a private home and is not open to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Tanaka Family Residence East Gate (田中家住宅東門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-637 Tonouchicho, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 28-0458 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2010/09/10 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-story timber gate; gabled pantile roof; 3.1 by 2.9 meters; opening 2.1 meters; wicket door |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Grounds not open (private home); gate visible from the street |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Tanaka Family Residence East Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008315
- Cultural Heritage Online: Tanaka Family Residence East Gate
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/146047
- Amagasaki City: Registered Cultural Properties of Amagasaki, Tanaka Family Residence
- https://www.city.amagasaki.hyogo.jp/manabu/bunkazai_0/1028308/1028313/1028792.html
Last verified: 2026.10.04
