Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse

The Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse: A Meiji-Era Treasure on Kujira-ga-Oka Hill

Standing proudly along the historic streetscape of Kujira-ga-Oka in Hitachi-Ota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, the Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse (Kyū Inada-ke Jūtaku Aka Renga Kura) is a striking three-story red brick structure that has watched over this hilltop district for over a century. Built in 1910 during the Meiji era, this storehouse is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan, recognized for its exceptional architectural craftsmanship and its important contribution to the historical landscape of one of Ibaraki's most charming heritage districts.

History: The Legacy of the Inada Family and Their Sake Brewing Enterprise

The red brick storehouse was constructed in 1910 (Meiji 43) by Keizo Inada, a prominent local sake brewer who operated a business under the trade name "Inadaya." Records from an 1884 Ibaraki Prefecture industrial report confirm the Inadaya establishment at the address of Higashi-Icchō 20, Ōta Town, indicating that the Inada family had been well-established merchants in the area for decades before the storehouse was built.

The storehouse served as a "sode-gura" — a side storehouse attached to the main merchant residence — used to store valuable goods and sake-related products. In its heyday, the adjacent property featured a two-story earthen-walled merchant house connected to the brick structure, along with three wells, rear gate pillars, and a surrounding brick wall, all testament to the prosperity of the Inadaya enterprise.

The building was constructed by Tatsukichi Saito, a master shrine carpenter (miyādaiku tōryō) who resided in the Kanai-machi district of Ōta. Saito was active during the same period that saw the construction of the Former Ōta Junior High School Auditorium, which is now designated as a national Important Cultural Property. The influence of that renowned building can be felt in the design of this red brick storehouse, making it an architecturally fascinating companion piece to one of the region's most celebrated heritage structures.

Why It Was Designated: Architectural and Cultural Significance

The Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse was registered as a national tangible cultural property on October 7, 2014 (Heisei 26). Three-story red brick storehouses from the Meiji era are rare in Ibaraki Prefecture, which led the University of Tsukuba to conduct an academic survey of the building in 2009 at the commission of Hitachi-Ota City.

The official registration notes several distinctive architectural features that warranted its cultural property status. The building measures three bays in depth (ken) by two bays in width, with the gable end facing the street in a "tsuma-iri" entrance style. It features decorative pediments and a cornice running along the roofline, reflecting Western architectural influences that were fashionable during the Meiji period. The double-leaf hinged doors on the second and third floors of both gable sides are finished with "kakego-nuri" black lacquer plaster — a technique that demonstrates remarkably high plastering craftsmanship.

The building's contribution to the historical streetscape of Kujira-ga-Oka was also a key factor in its designation. As one of the few surviving Meiji-era brick structures in the area, it anchors the district's distinctive blend of traditional Japanese merchant architecture and early modern Western-influenced design.

Highlights and Architectural Details

Visitors to the red brick storehouse will discover a building that beautifully blends Western construction methods with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The exterior walls of carefully laid red bricks create an imposing three-story facade that stands in elegant contrast to the wooden merchant buildings surrounding it. The roof, originally tiled, has been updated with galvanized steel sheeting while maintaining the building's historic proportions.

Perhaps the most remarkable interior feature is the ceiling structure on the third floor. The arrangement of pillars and beams reveals master carpenter Tatsukichi Saito's extraordinary woodworking skills, with joinery techniques that continue to delight visitors with their precision and beauty. This is particularly noteworthy because Saito was trained as a shrine carpenter, and his specialized knowledge of complex traditional timber framing is evident in these structural details.

Today, the storehouse has been thoughtfully repurposed as "Open Gallery Kura," a community gallery space that hosts art exhibitions, painting shows, and cultural events. This adaptive reuse allows visitors to step inside the historic structure and experience both its architectural heritage and contemporary cultural programming. The building underwent renovation work in 2011 to ensure its preservation for future generations.

Exploring Kujira-ga-Oka: The Whale Hill Historic District

The red brick storehouse is located within the Kujira-ga-Oka district, one of the most atmospheric historic neighborhoods in northern Ibaraki. The name "Kujira-ga-Oka" literally means "Whale Hill," inspired by the shape of the elevated plateau that resembles a whale floating on the ocean. According to local legend, in the 4th century, the legendary hero Yamato Takeru saw this hilltop landform and named it "Kuji" after its whale-like appearance during his eastern campaign.

The approximately 600-meter Kujira-ga-Oka Shopping Street preserves a wonderful collection of Meiji and Shōwa-era buildings, including traditional earthen-walled storehouses (dozo-zukuri), wooden merchant houses (machiya-zukuri), and other registered cultural properties. One of the district's special features is that many buildings display explanatory plaques describing their history, making it easy for visitors to appreciate the architectural heritage as they stroll along the streets.

Notable neighboring attractions within walking distance include the Umetsu Kaikan (Hitachi-Ota City Local History Museum), a beautifully preserved 1936 former town hall building that is itself a registered cultural property, and the charming "Kujira-ya" shop, where visitors can enjoy "kujira-yaki" — whale-shaped pastries that are the local version of the beloved taiyaki snack, filled with red bean paste, custard, or chocolate.

Nearby Attractions and Day Trip Ideas

Hitachi-Ota City offers a wealth of cultural and natural attractions beyond Kujira-ga-Oka. The Ryujin Great Suspension Bridge, spanning 375 meters across the scenic Ryujin Gorge, is one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in Japan and offers bungee jumping from a height of 100 meters. The gorge itself, known as the "Yaba Gorge of the Kanto Region," features beautiful hiking trails through primeval forests.

History enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the Former Machiya Substation, another registered tangible cultural property featuring distinctive red brick architecture, and the Saiganji Temple with its beautiful thatched-roof main hall designated as a national Important Cultural Property. For those interested in the region's connection to the Mito Domain, Hitachi-Ota is closely linked to the Satake clan, who ruled the area for centuries, and the nearby Seisan-sō (West Mountain Villa) associated with Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the famous feudal lord known as Mito Kōmon.

The Hitachi-Ota area is also renowned for its "Hitachi Aki Soba" (autumn buckwheat noodles), considered some of the finest soba in Japan. An annual soba festival draws craftsmen from across the country and is a perfect excuse to combine cultural sightseeing with culinary exploration.