The smallest of the nine
The west utensil storehouse of the Otoshi residence stands at the northern end of the compound in Shinnobe, Befu, north-west of the detached wing and following the outer wall along the north-west edge of the site. It is one element that completes the wall-line of the estate at this corner.
The store measures three bays by one and a half, roofed with a gabled tile covering and entered on the gable end (tsumairi). At 17 square metres it is the smallest of the nine Otoshi buildings. Closed in build like its counterpart, it was used, together with the store on the north side, to keep the household's utensils.
Why it is registered
Registered on 18 November 1999 as part of the Otoshi group, the west store matters less for its size than for its place in the whole. It is one of a pair of utensil stores that, with the detached wing and the retirement room, define the private northern edge of the compound.
Small buildings like this are exactly what a registered ensemble is meant to keep: not monuments in themselves, but the ordinary service structures that, surviving together, let a complete headman's establishment still be read on the ground.
What to look for
The gable-end entrance is worth noting: unlike the rice store, which is entered on its long side, this one opens on its narrow end, a small difference that reflects how each store was fitted to its position against the wall. Its modest size and plain plaster make it easy to overlook, which is part of the honesty of the compound.
The residence is private and not open for regular visits. This store hugs the north-west wall, so its plastered end forms part of the outer edge of the estate even where the interior cannot be seen.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near West Furniture Storehouse of the Otoshi Family Residence
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Q&A
- How does it differ from the east store?
- It is smaller and is entered on its gable end rather than the long side.
- How big is it?
- About 17 square metres, the smallest of the nine Otoshi buildings.
- What did it hold?
- Household utensils, together with the east utensil storehouse.
- Can it be visited?
- No; it is part of a private residence and not open for regular visits.
Basic Information
| Name | Otoshi Family Residence West Utensil Storehouse (Otoshike Jutaku Nishi-jukigura) |
|---|---|
| Location | 881 Shinnobe, Befu-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Category | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Registered | 18 November 1999 |
| Structure | Wooden plaster storehouse, one storey, gabled tile roof, gable-end entrance; building area approx. 17 sq m; 1 building |
| Period | Edo period, 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