What Is the Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4?
The Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 (旧菅野家住宅土蔵四, Kyū Kanno-ke Jūtaku Dozō Yon) is a storehouse built in 1909 in Setamai, Sumita Town, Iwate Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 May 2017. It faces the inner courtyard of the Kanno property and began life as a bunkogura, a storehouse for books and account ledgers.
It is a 2-storey Dozo-zukuri storehouse with a tiled roof and a building area of 48 square metres. It was restored in 2016.
Registration and Structure
Storehouse No. 4 was registered, as number 03-0097, for its contribution to the historic landscape, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs specifies that it forms part of the garden scenery. It is the only one of the four Kanno storehouses whose landscape role is described in terms of the garden.
It measures 9.6 metres along the ridge (Ketayuki) and 5.1 metres across (Harima). The roof is a Kirizuma-zukuri gable with the entrance in the gable end (Tsumairi), built as an Okiyane over the earthen body. Inside is a single room. The posts stand close together, and heavy Taruki rafters run from the Munagi ridge beam down to the side beams, a frame the Agency describes as imposing.
What to Look for at Storehouse No. 4
Seen from the courtyard, the Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 sits on a raised base of dressed stone. That lift off the ground gives the whole building its poise.
Look higher and you will see that the window surrounds on the upper floor of the gable end are finished in black plaster. Those dark frames are the first thing to catch the eye from across the garden. The stone base and the black window frame are what anchor this storehouse in the courtyard view.
If you can get inside, note how closely the posts are spaced and how thick the rafters are. This is the frame the Agency calls imposing, and you can judge it for yourself.
Visiting the Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4
Storehouse No. 4 looks onto the courtyard of Machiya Setamai-eki. Sumita Town mentions a gallery in a storehouse facing the courtyard, but published information does not confirm whether that is Storehouse No. 4. Ask at reception on an opening day whether you can see inside.
The town's information says nothing about photography, so check that at the same time. Opening hours and directions are on the Former Kanno Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Iwate
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4
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Q&A
- When was the Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 built?
- In 1909. It was restored in 2016 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 May 2017.
- What was the Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 originally used for?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it was originally a bunkogura. A bunkogura is a storehouse for books and ledgers.
- What should I look for on the outside of Storehouse No. 4 at the Former Kanno Family Residence?
- It stands on a stone base, and the upper window surrounds on the gable end are finished in black plaster. Both are clearest from the courtyard.
- How large is the Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4, and how is it built inside?
- It is 9.6 metres long and 5.1 metres wide, with a building area of 48 square metres. Inside is one room with closely set posts and heavy rafters running from the ridge beam to the side beams.
- Is the Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 the storehouse gallery?
- Sumita Town describes a gallery in a storehouse facing the courtyard, but published information does not confirm it is Storehouse No. 4. Ask at the Machiya Setamai-eki reception (closed Wednesdays).
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 (旧菅野家住宅土蔵四) |
|---|---|
| Location | 13-1 Setamai-eki, Setamai, Sumita-cho, Kesen-gun, Iwate Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2017 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen storehouse, 2 storeys, tiled roof; 9.6 metres by 5.1 metres; building area 48 square metres |
| Owner | Sumita Town |
| Public Access | Faces the Machiya Setamai-eki courtyard (closed Wednesdays); ask at reception about the interior |
References
- Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 (Agency for Cultural Affairs database)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011443
- Former Kanno Family Residence Storehouse No. 4 (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/222304
- Machiya Setamai-eki community facility (Sumita Town, in Japanese)
- https://www.town.sumita.iwate.jp/docs/2016051300011/
Last verified: 2026.09.30
