A small storehouse with a heavy presence
Storehouses rarely draw a second glance, yet they hold much of the practical history of a temple. The north storehouse at Shokoji is the earliest of the compound's Taisho-era buildings, dated to 1914, and stands to the north of the south storehouse, with a rear entrance between the two.
It is a small building, only about fifteen square metres in floor area, running north to south under a gabled roof of pantiles laid as a separate cover over the earthen structure. The plan is one room on each of its two floors, lined inside with vertical boarding.
Black plaster and a registered status
The exterior is finished in white plaster, but the lower walls are treated in black plaster, and stone facing is applied on the street side. The combination gives this little storehouse a weight and formality out of proportion to its size, and it is that solid, deliberate appearance that the record emphasises.
The north storehouse was registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2011 as a structure contributing to the historic landscape. Along with the south storehouse it helps hold the line of the street, a reminder that even utilitarian buildings shape the character of a town.
The storehouses and the street
Read together with the south storehouse, the north storehouse shows how a temple used earthen-walled construction to protect its stores against fire and time. The pair frame the eastern side of the compound and contribute to the townscape of old Matto.
As service buildings the storehouses are not open inside. Visitors will find the welcoming part of Shokoji on the west side, where the Chiyo-ni Hall and Sofu-an tea hut stand in the open and the relic hall of the poet can be entered for a small charge.
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Q&A
- What is a dozo?
- A dozo is a traditional Japanese storehouse with thick earthen walls finished in plaster, built to resist fire and protect its contents.
- How old is the north storehouse?
- It dates to 1914, making it the earliest of the Taisho-era buildings at Shokoji, and it was registered as a cultural property in 2011.
- What is distinctive about it?
- Its lower walls are finished in black plaster with stone facing on the street side, giving a small building a solid, formal look out of proportion to its size.
- Can I see inside?
- No; the storehouses are service buildings and not open. The Chiyo-ni memorial area on the west side is open to visitors.
- How big is it?
- Small, about fifteen square metres, with one room on each of its two floors.
Basic Information
| Name | Shokoji North Storehouse (Kita-dozo) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan |
| Classification | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (national register) |
| Registration date | January 26, 2011 |
| Registration no. | 17-0216 |
| Registration criterion | Contributing to the nation's historic landscape |
| Era | 1914 (Taisho 3) |
| Structure | Two-storey earthen-walled storehouse, tiled roof, floor area 15 m² |
| Count | 1 building |
| Owner | Religious corporation Shokoji |
| Public access | Active temple; interior not routinely open. The Chiyo-ni Hall, Sofu-an tea hut and relic hall (small fee) are open to visitors. |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs National Cultural Properties Database
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008445
- Kaga no Chiyojo | Hakusan City
- https://www.city.hakusan.lg.jp/bunka/bunkashinko/1002773/1002775/index.html
- Shokoji | Urara Hakusanbito Tourism
- https://www.urara-hakusanbito.com/spot/detail_1100.html
- Shokoji Official Site
- https://shokoji.jp/
Last verified: 2026.07.11