A Storehouse Built Against the Flood
Fukuchiyama grew up in the flood basin of the Yura River, and its old merchant families built with high water in mind. The West Storehouse of the former Kataoka Residence, raised in 1915, is one of the clearest expressions of that habit. It stands at the northwest corner of the compound, just west of the two-story guest parlor, its ridge running north to south.
What sets it apart is its height. This is a three-story dozo, an earthen-walled storehouse, where two floors would be the norm. Together with the neighboring parlor, the ground beneath it was built up by roughly a meter before construction began, and the extra story lifted valuables further above any water that might reach the site. The plastered white walls and gabled pantile roof follow storehouse tradition; the engineering underneath does not.
Why It Was Registered
The storehouse was entered on the national register of Tangible Cultural Properties in June 2021, one of six Kataoka buildings recognized for their part in the historic townscape. On its own terms, it is valued as a piece of practical architecture shaped by place. Few storehouses anywhere rise to three stories, and the reason here is legible: a household protecting its goods from a river that has flooded the town again and again.
The building also reads as part of a set. A board-floored antechamber on its south side connects by corridor to the guest parlor, so the storehouse was not a separate outbuilding but an extension of the reception wing. Local surveys suggest it held the tableware and furnishings brought out for the gatherings the parlor was built to host.
What to Look for on a Visit
From the garden side, look for the way the storehouse sits slightly above its surroundings, then trace the corridor that ties it to the parlor. The thick plastered walls and small openings that mark a dozo were meant to resist fire as well as water. Counting the floors is worth the moment it takes, since a three-story earthen storehouse is a rarity that speaks directly to how this town learned to live with its river.
The compound now operates as Torinago Kyubee, a restaurant centered on duck hotpot, and the interiors are experienced as part of a meal rather than a formal tour. Reservations are advised. Do not confuse this residence with the former Kataoka villa nearby, now the separately registered Ashida Residence, which sits on the river embankment across the street.
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Questions and Answers
- Why is the storehouse three stories tall?
- Height was a flood measure. The ground was raised about a meter and a third floor was added so the family's goods sat well above the reach of the Yura River.
- What is a dozo?
- It is a traditional storehouse with thick earthen walls finished in plaster, built to protect its contents from fire and damp. This one adds height for flood protection.
- Can I see inside?
- The compound is now the restaurant Torinago Kyubee, so the buildings can be seen while dining. The storehouse connects to the guest parlor by a short corridor.
- When was it built?
- In 1915, the same year as the two-story parlor it serves. It was renovated in 2020 when the current restaurant opened.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kataoka Residence, West Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 15 Shimoyanagi, Fukuchiyama, Kyoto |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (registered 24 June 2021) |
| Count | One building |
| Structure | Earthen-walled storehouse, three stories, tile roof; building area 32 square meters |
| Built | 1915 (Taisho 4); renovated 2020 |
| Present use | Restaurant (Torinago Kyubee) |
| Access | About 15 minutes on foot from Fukuchiyama Station; interior viewable while dining, reservation advised |
References
- National Database of Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Former Kataoka Residence West Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00013832
- Cultural Heritage Online — Former Kataoka Residence
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/591530
- Fukuchiyama City Official Site — Former Kataoka Residence
- https://www.city.fukuchiyama.lg.jp/soshiki/7/46298.html
Last verified: 2026.07.03