Former Imperial Japanese Army Horse Supplement Division Rokuhara Branch Officers' Quarters Building No. 1
Tucked away in the quiet rural landscape of Kanegasaki Town in Iwate Prefecture, the Former Imperial Japanese Army Horse Supplement Division Rokuhara Branch Officers' Quarters Building No. 1 (旧陸軍省軍馬補充部六原支部官舎第一棟) stands as a remarkably well-preserved example of Meiji-era military residential architecture. Built around 1911 (Meiji 44), this single-story wooden structure once housed senior officers who oversaw one of Japan's most important wartime horse breeding operations. Today, it serves as the Gunba no Sato Rokuhara Museum, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into both Japan's military equestrian heritage and the distinctive Western-influenced architectural style of the late Meiji period.
Historical Background
The Iwate region around the city of Mizusawa has a long history connected to military horse supply, with records of horse procurement dating back to 1872 during the early Meiji government. In 1896, the Imperial Japanese Army established the Horse Supplement Division (軍馬補充部) to systematically breed, raise, and supply horses for military use. Through the dedicated efforts of Kuwashima Jūzaburō, a veterinarian and local politician who served as village head and district council member, the Rokuhara Branch was established in 1898 in what is now the Rokuhara district of Kanegasaki Town.
At its peak, the Rokuhara Branch maintained approximately 1,000 horses, categorized into riding horses, draft horses for pulling loads, and pack horses for carrying supplies on their backs. Officers' quarters were constructed across nine parceled lots separated by earthen embankments along a north-south road. Of the original nine quarters, three buildings survive to this day, all dating to 1911. The branch was closed in 1925 as part of military downsizing, and the extensive grounds later became the Iwate Prefectural Agricultural University.
Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property
Building No. 1 was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property on May 2, 2017, along with Buildings No. 2 and No. 3. Several factors contributed to this designation. The building is a rare surviving example of officers' quarters built for senior military officials (佐官級, field-grade officers) of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its Western-style clapboard exterior, combined with a Japanese-Western hybrid interior layout, exemplifies the architectural experimentation of the Meiji era. The central corridor separates Japanese-style tatami rooms on the east side from a Western-style reception room on the west side. Notably, the building features two entrances, a design believed to accommodate officers mounting and dismounting horses. The structure is recognized as a model of Meiji-era Western-style wooden architecture and serves as valuable documentation of Japan's military modernization.
Architectural Highlights and Points of Interest
The building is a single-story wooden structure with a hipped roof covered in steel sheeting, encompassing a floor area of 117 square meters. Its exterior showcases classic Meiji-era Western architectural elements: an English-bond brick foundation, horizontal clapboard siding across the entire facade, and double-hung sash windows framed with decorative moldings. One particularly charming detail is the ventilation grille shaped like the character "六" (roku, meaning "six"), a design unique to the Rokuhara Branch that reflects the facility's identity.
Inside, visitors can explore the hybrid layout that blends Japanese and Western living spaces. The Western-style reception room retains period furnishings and decor, while the Japanese-style rooms showcase traditional tatami flooring and sliding doors. Since its 2015 renovation and 2016 opening as the Gunba no Sato Rokuhara Museum, the building displays historical photographs, documents, and artifacts related to the military horse operations that once thrived here.
Visitor Information and Surroundings
The museum is free of charge and open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It is closed during the year-end period and from January through March. The building is located approximately 10 minutes by car from JR Kanegasaki Station on the Tōhoku Main Line.
The surrounding Rokuhara area offers additional attractions worth visiting. The Iwate Prefectural Flower Center (岩手県立花きセンター) features extensive botanical gardens and greenhouses. Senganishi Forest Park (千貫石森林公園) provides opportunities for nature walks and outdoor recreation. The broader Kanegasaki Town is known for its well-preserved samurai district and historical streetscapes, making it an excellent destination for heritage enthusiasts.
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Q＆A
- What is the Gunba no Sato Rokuhara Museum?
- It is a museum housed in the former officers' quarters (Building No. 1) of the Imperial Japanese Army Horse Supplement Division's Rokuhara Branch. The building was constructed around 1911 and renovated in 2015, opening as a museum in October 2016. It displays photographs, documents, and artifacts related to the military horse operations that once took place in the area.
- Is there an admission fee?
- No, admission is free of charge. The museum is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Please note that it is closed during the year-end holiday period and from January through March.
- How can I get to the museum?
- The museum is about 10 minutes by car from JR Kanegasaki Station on the Tōhoku Main Line. There is no regular public bus service directly to the site, so driving or taking a taxi from the station is recommended.
- What makes this building architecturally significant?
- It is one of very few surviving examples of field-grade officers' quarters from the Imperial Japanese Army. The building features a distinctive Japanese-Western hybrid design with clapboard siding, English-bond brick foundations, sash windows, and a unique ventilation grille shaped like the character "六" (six). It was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2017.
- Are the other two surviving buildings also open to the public?
- Buildings No. 2 and No. 3 are also registered cultural properties located nearby, but the primary museum facility is Building No. 1. Visitors can view the exteriors of all three buildings, which share similar Meiji-era Western architectural features including brick foundations and clapboard siding.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Imperial Japanese Army Horse Supplement Division Rokuhara Branch Officers' Quarters Building No. 1 (旧陸軍省軍馬補充部六原支部官舎第一棟) |
|---|---|
| Museum Name | Gunba no Sato Rokuhara Museum (軍馬の郷六原資料館) |
| Construction | c. 1911 (Meiji 44); renovated 2015 |
| Structure | Single-story wooden building, hipped roof with steel sheeting, floor area 117 m² |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (registered May 2, 2017) |
| Owner | Iwate Prefecture |
| Address | 17-1 Rokuhara Kanikozawa, Kanegasaki Town, Isawa District, Iwate Prefecture |
| Phone | 0197-43-2077 |
| Hours | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Wed, Sat, Sun only; closed Jan–Mar and year-end) |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | Approximately 10 minutes by car from JR Kanegasaki Station |
References
- 文化遺産オンライン – 旧陸軍省軍馬補充部六原支部官舎第一棟
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/285636
- 金ケ崎町役場 – 国登録有形文化財 軍馬の郷六原資料館
- https://www.town.kanegasaki.iwate.jp/docs/2017122800027/
- 軍馬の郷六原資料館 – Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/軍馬の郷六原資料館
- HORSE LAND IWATE – 軍馬の郷六原資料館
- https://hl-iwate.com/news/1157/
- いわての文化情報大事典 – 旧陸軍省軍馬補充部六原支部官舎第一棟
- http://www.bunka.pref.iwate.jp/archive/hist570
Last verified: 2026.04.10