One survivor out of ten
The Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse stands at 929-1 Tamachi-Ko in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture, a two-storey Dozo-zukuri building of the late Meiji period listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2011 (Heisei 23). Its Kirizuma-zukuri roof is Sangawara-buki, and the footprint is 67 square meters.
It stands south of the main house, on the far side of the garden. The ridge runs east to west, 9.4 meters along by 5.6 meters across.
Chikusei City records that a trolley rail once ran north to south through the Arakawa property, with 5 storehouses ranged along each side, 10 in all. The Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse is the only one of them still standing.
What ten storehouses imply
A rail line threading between two rows of storehouses says a good deal about the volume this household handled. For a wholesaler in fertiliser, sundries and general goods, storehouse space was the stock itself. The rail shortened the distance anything had to be carried by hand, and the buildings lined up along it.
Only the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse remains, and the rail has gone. The size of the one survivor south of the garden still gives a measure of what the row must have been.
Its registration number is 08-0255, listed as a building that contributes to the historic character of the landscape, and it was repaired in 1989 (Heisei 1).
A deep canopy and doors of 8 shaku 9 sun
A deep Geya canopy runs along the north face of the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse, sheltering 2 entrances. The doors are double-leaf and finished in kakego-nuri, where the plastered edges of leaf and frame interlock in steps so that no straight gap is left between them. Fire and damp are shut out by the same detail.
Chikusei City gives the height of these doors as 8 shaku 9 sun, about 2.7 meters. Two pairs of openings well above head height are simply the dimensions of goods handling, made visible on the elevation.
Inside, a Wagoya roof frame carries the structure, finished in Shikkui. Heavy beams cross the loft space in the ordinary way for a storehouse, though at a scale that belongs to a wholesale business rather than a household.
Seen across the garden, the white mass sits low and heavy against the planting. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits it with holding the garden composition together.
Visiting the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse
The Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse is privately owned and closed. Standing south of the garden, it cannot be seen from the Route 50 side either. Exterior photographs are published in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database.
Do not enter the property to photograph it. The garden is private ground as well.
From the north exit of Shimodate Station it is about 700 meters north, some 10 minutes on foot, with the JR Mito Line, the Kanto Railway Joso Line and the Moka Railway all calling there. The former shop storehouse on the same plot does front the highway, and its exterior can be seen from the pavement. Details confirmed on 5 September 2026.
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Q&A
- Can I visit the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse?
- No. The Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse is closed and sits south of a private garden, out of sight from the road. The former shop storehouse on the same plot does face the highway and can be seen from outside.
- When was the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse built and listed?
- It dates from the late Meiji period and was repaired in 1989 (Heisei 1). Listing as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property followed on 25 July 2011, under registration number 08-0255.
- How many storehouses once stood with the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse?
- Chikusei City records 10 in total, 5 on each side of a trolley rail that ran north to south across the property. This is the only one that survives.
- How large are the doors of the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse?
- Chikusei City gives their height as 8 shaku 9 sun, about 2.7 meters. There are 2 entrances under the deep canopy on the north face, each closed by interlocking double-leaf doors.
- How do I reach the Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse?
- Walk about 700 meters north from the north exit of Shimodate Station, roughly 10 minutes. The JR Mito Line, Kanto Railway Joso Line and Moka Railway all serve the station.
Basic Information
| Name | Arakawa Family Residence Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 929-1 Tamachi-Ko, Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and adjacent lots |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered in 2011 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Dozo-zukuri, 2 storeys, tile roof, building area 67 square meters |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Closed to the public and not visible from the highway |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database (Registered Tangible Cultural Property, Buildings)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008635
- Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education: Arakawa Family Residence, Main House and Two Others
- https://kyoiku.pref.ibaraki.jp/bunkazai/bunkazai-registered-6038/
- Chikusei City: Arakawa Family Residence (registration numbers 08-0253 to 08-0255)
- https://www.city.chikusei.lg.jp/kyouiku-bunka-sports/bunkazai/nationally-registered/page001170.html
Last verified: 2026.09.05