The Goyashiki Middle Gate
Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate (郷屋敷（旧井上家住宅）中門, chūmon) is an early Meiji-era gate dividing the front garden and the south garden of the Inoue family estate in Mure-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on October 12, 2001.
It stands south of the Main House, slightly to the east. The national database lists a timber gate with a tiled roof and an opening 1.8 meters wide, flanked by earthen walls totaling 13 meters. It is dated to the early Meiji era, shortly after 1868.
A Yakuimon Stripped to Essentials
The Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate is a small Yakuimon with a north-south ridge, a gabled roof and hongawara tiles, and a single doorway in a single bay. It has no bracket sets (kumimono); the beams sit directly on the posts, about as simple as a gate of this type gets.
It was registered as a model of design. The official commentary values the way the gate and its walls, running north and south, mark the boundary between the front garden of the Main House and the south garden to the southeast, shaping the layout of the grounds with very little. Its worth lies less in ornament than in how it organizes the gardens.
Where the Gardens Change
From the front garden inside the Front Gate, look toward the south side of the Main House and the Goyashiki Middle Gate comes into view. The walls on either side make it clear at once that one garden ends here and another begins.
With no bracket sets, the joinery of beam and post is left in plain sight. Step back a little to see how this pared-down gate sits quietly in front of the big roof of the Main House.
Visiting the Middle Gate
The Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate is inside the Goyashiki restaurant grounds, and visitors during business hours can see it from the front garden. The website says nothing about access to the south garden beyond it, so follow the staff's directions.
Take photographs only with the staff's agreement and without disturbing other guests. Hours and directions are on the Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) group page.
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Q&A
- When was the Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate built?
- In the early Meiji era, shortly after 1868. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2001.
- What type of gate is the Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate?
- A single-bay yakuimon with a gabled hongawara tile roof and a north-south ridge. It has no bracket sets; the beams rest directly on the posts.
- Where is the Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate?
- South of the Main House, a little to the east. With its flanking walls it divides the front garden from the south garden.
- How big is the Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate?
- The opening is 1.8 meters wide, and the attached walls total 13 meters.
- Can I see the Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate without dining?
- It stands inside the grounds, so plan to see it as a guest during restaurant hours.
Basic Information
| Name | Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate |
|---|---|
| Location | 1987 Omachi, Mure-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2001 (Heisei 13) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled roof, opening 1.8 meters wide, with flanking earthen walls 13 meters long |
| Owner | Not disclosed (no owner listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Inside the Goyashiki restaurant grounds; exterior visible from the front garden during business hours |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Cultural Properties Database: Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00002455
- Cultural Heritage Online: Goyashiki (Former Inoue Family Residence) Middle Gate
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/149065
- Goyashiki official website: About Goyashiki
- https://goyashiki.co.jp/about/
Last verified: 2026.09.16
