Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse: A Three-Storey Brick Store on Kujiragaoka
The Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse (旧稲田家住宅赤煉瓦蔵) is a three-storey brick storehouse built in 1910 in Higashiichi-machi, Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and was entered on the national register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2014.
It was built as a side storehouse for the Inada family, local landowners. The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists a three-storey brick building with a steel-sheet roof and a building area of 23 square metres, renovated in 2011. It was registered on 7 October 2014.
Why It Was Registered
The agency describes it as a solid brick storehouse that contributes to the streetscape of Kujiragaoka, the long hilltop town at the centre of Hitachiota where old merchant houses and storehouses line the street.
It is 3 bays by 2, entered from the gable end, with brick laid up through three storeys. Among the plastered earthen storehouses of the town, a red-brick building of three storeys stands out.
What to Look For
The gables are crowned with pediments, and a cornice runs along the eaves: Western ornament wrapped around a brick storehouse.
On both gable ends of the second and third floors are double doors finished in black plaster with stepped rebates (kakego-nuri), which the agency cites as evidence of fine plastering skill. Look at the stepped edges of the doors against the red brick.
Viewing the Storehouse
The storehouse is on Kujiragaoka in Higashiichi-machi, Hitachiota. No official information on interior access or hours could be found.
The exterior appears to be visible from the street, but do not enter the property and avoid obstructing traffic.
Q&A
- When was the Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse built?
- In 1910; it was renovated in 2011.
- How is the Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse built?
- Three storeys of brick with a steel-sheet roof and a building area of 23 square metres, 3 bays by 2, entered from the gable end.
- What should I look for at the Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse?
- The pediments and cornice, and the black-plastered double doors on the upper floors.
- When was the storehouse registered?
- On 7 October 2014, as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
- Can I visit the Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse?
- No official interior access information was found. Do not enter the property.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 2295-2 Higashiichi-higashi, Higashiichi-machi, Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2014/10/07 (Heisei 26) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Three-storey brick, steel-sheet roof, building area 23 m² |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | No official interior access information |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010096
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/287939
- Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education: Former Inada Family Residence Red Brick Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://kyoiku.pref.ibaraki.jp/bunkazai/bunkazai-registered-5993/
Last verified: 2026.09.27