What Is the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse?
The Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse (魚橋呉服店南土蔵, Uohashi Gofukuten Minami Dozō) is an earthen-walled storehouse behind and to the east of the south main house of the Uohashi Kimono Store in Itokujimachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture; it was built around 1899 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2014.
A two-story Dozo-zukuri storehouse with a tiled roof, it measures 4.6 by 3.3 meters, with a building area of 23 square meters, the smallest of the store's four registered buildings. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a store for household goods, with a pickle store attached at the south end.
Why the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse Was Registered
The Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property for contributing to the historic landscape of the country.
Built around 1899, the same time as the south main house in front of it, it survives as one half of that southern pair. A household storehouse with a pickle store on the end was clearly meant for the family's daily life rather than for trade goods, which sets it apart in character from the north storehouse behind the shop.
What to Look for at the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse
The Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse runs north to south under a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of Hongawarabuki tiles, with the pickle store attached at its southern end.
The walls are plastered in Shikkui, and the lower walls are finished as Namako-kabe: flat tiles set in a diagonal grid with their joints built up in rounded ridges of plaster, protecting the earthen wall from rain splashing off the ground.
The entrance is toward the south end of the west face, closed by a heavy earthen door finished in Kakegonuri, in which the door edge and the frame are plastered in matching steps so that they lock together when shut and leave no gap for fire to enter. A small canopy shelters the door, and a window opens directly above it. For such a small building, its fire protection is thorough.
Visiting the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse
The Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse stands behind the south main house on private land and cannot be visited. From the Nozato road it is hidden by the house in front. The stepped door and tiled dado can be seen in the photographs on the Agency for Cultural Affairs database and the Himeji City page.
Directions are on the Uohashi Kimono Store page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- When was the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse built?
- Around 1899. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on April 25, 2014.
- What did the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse hold?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, household goods; a pickle store is attached at its south end.
- How large is the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse?
- It measures 4.6 by 3.3 meters, with a building area of 23 square meters, the smallest of the four registered buildings.
- What is special about the door of the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse?
- It is a fireproof earthen door in kakegonuri, set toward the south end of the west face under a small canopy, with a window directly above.
- Can visitors see the Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse?
- No. It is on private land, not open to visitors, and not visible from the street.
Basic Information
| Name | Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 50 Itokujimachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2014 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 23 m² (4.6 m by 3.3 m) |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (on private land) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010017
- Himeji City: Uohashi Kimono Store South Storehouse (in Japanese)
- https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/0000001859.html
- Himeji City: List of Registered Cultural Properties (in Japanese)
- https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/0000001691.html
Last verified: 2026.10.02
