Hori Family Clock Shop: A Shōwa-Era Kanban Building in Marugame
Tucked away on a quiet street northeast of JR Marugame Station in Kagawa Prefecture, the Hori Family Clock Shop (堀家時計店, Hori-ke Tokei-ten) stands as an enduring example of early Shōwa-period commercial architecture. Registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in November 2005, this two-story wooden building embodies the distinctive kanban-kenchiku (看板建築) style—a uniquely Japanese architectural tradition in which a traditional wooden structure is fronted by a modern, Western-inspired facade. Originally built as a medical clinic and later converted into a clock shop, this building tells a compelling story of Japan's modernization and the evolving character of its provincial towns.
What Is Kanban-Kenchiku? Understanding Billboard Architecture
To fully appreciate the Hori Family Clock Shop, it is helpful to understand the kanban-kenchiku tradition. The term literally translates to "signboard architecture" or "billboard architecture," referring to buildings whose front facades are designed to resemble Western-style masonry or concrete structures, while the sides and rear reveal their true wooden construction. This style originated in Tokyo during the reconstruction following the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923, when shop owners sought affordable ways to give their wooden buildings a fireproof and modern appearance. Mortar, copper sheeting, and tiles were applied to the street-facing walls, often incorporating decorative elements drawn from Western classical architecture such as pilasters, cornices, and pediments.
As carpenters who had worked on the reconstruction returned to their home regions, the kanban-kenchiku style spread throughout Japan, reaching cities and towns across the country during the early Shōwa era (1926 onward). The Hori Family Clock Shop in Marugame is a fine example of how this metropolitan architectural trend was adopted and adapted in a regional castle town on the island of Shikoku.
Architectural Features and Design
The Hori Family Clock Shop is a two-story wooden building with a hipped roof (寄棟造) covered in Japanese san-gawara clay tiles. The building has a total floor area of approximately 125 square meters. Its most striking feature is the north-facing front facade, which is finished in mortar plaster to create the appearance of a solid Western-style building.
Several distinctive decorative elements define the facade. Pilaster-like column forms (柱形) are placed at the corners and at key structural points along the front, framing the composition and lending it a sense of order and classical proportion. The central entrance is slightly projected forward from the wall plane, flanked on both sides by columns that give it a sense of depth and grandeur. Above the entrance, a gable-shaped ornamental pediment crowns the composition, adding a finishing touch of Western architectural elegance to this otherwise modest commercial building.
The building was originally constructed as a medical clinic (医院), which explains its relatively substantial size and refined facade treatment—clinics in the early Shōwa period often sought to project an image of trustworthiness and modernity through their architecture. The conversion to a clock and watch shop represents the kind of adaptive reuse that has allowed many kanban buildings to survive into the present day.
Why It Was Registered as a Cultural Property
The Hori Family Clock Shop was officially registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property (登録有形文化財) on November 10, 2005. Japan's registration system for tangible cultural properties was established in 1996 to protect a broad range of modern-era buildings that might otherwise be lost to redevelopment, neglect, or changing land use. Unlike the stricter designation system used for Important Cultural Properties or National Treasures, the registration system provides a lighter framework of protection through a notification-based system, encouraging owners to maintain and utilize their historic buildings while preserving the architectural heritage of local communities.
The Hori Family Clock Shop earned its registration as a representative example of early Shōwa-period kanban-kenchiku in the Shikoku region. Its mortar-plastered facade with classical column pilasters and the distinctive gable pediment ornament above the central entrance make it an architecturally significant record of how Western design motifs were absorbed into the commercial streetscapes of Japanese provincial towns during the pre-war modernization period.
Highlights and Points of Interest
For visitors interested in architecture and urban history, the Hori Family Clock Shop offers several rewarding points of observation. The contrast between the refined Western-style front facade and the traditional wooden construction visible from the sides and rear is perhaps the most characteristic feature of kanban-kenchiku, and it is clearly legible here. The gable ornament above the entrance is a particularly charming detail—a miniature pediment that recalls the grand civic architecture of the Meiji and Taishō eras, scaled down to fit a neighborhood shop front.
The building's location in the Nishi-Hirayama-chō neighborhood, just a few minutes' walk from Marugame Station, places it within the historic commercial district that developed around the castle town. Walking through these streets, visitors can observe the layered history of Marugame's urban development, from Edo-period castle town planning to Meiji and Shōwa-era modernization.
As a clock shop that continues to operate in its historic building, the Hori Family Clock Shop also represents the living heritage of small-town commerce—a family business that has maintained its presence across generations, keeping a piece of architectural history alive through daily use.
Nearby Attractions
The Hori Family Clock Shop is ideally situated for visitors exploring the cultural heritage of Marugame and the surrounding area. Marugame Castle (丸亀城), one of only twelve surviving original wooden castle keeps in Japan, is located approximately 15 minutes on foot from Marugame Station and is renowned for its spectacular stone walls, which rise to a combined height of about 60 meters—the tallest in Japan. The castle is designated as a National Important Cultural Property and is one of the top 100 castles of Japan.
Near the castle, the Marugame City Museum (丸亀市立資料館) offers exhibits on the city's history, feudal heritage, and folk culture. The Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art (MIMOCA), located adjacent to Marugame Station, is another worthwhile stop, housing works by the internationally acclaimed artist Genichiro Inokuma in a striking modern building designed by architect Yoshio Taniguchi.
Marugame is also celebrated as the birthplace of uchiwa (round fans), producing approximately 90% of Japan's traditional flat fans. Visitors can learn about this craft at local workshops and shops. The city is also an excellent base for day trips to Kotohira and the famous Kompira Shrine (金刀比羅宮), reachable by JR train in about 20 minutes.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kagawa
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Horiya Watch Shop
- [ Naoshima Art Island & Kotohiragu Shrine Visit ]
Q＆A
- What is kanban-kenchiku (billboard architecture)?
- Kanban-kenchiku is a Japanese architectural style that emerged after the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake, in which wooden buildings were given Western-style facades made of mortar, copper, or tile on the street-facing side. The style spread throughout Japan during the early Shōwa period as a way to create a modern, fireproof appearance at low cost.
- Can I go inside the Hori Family Clock Shop?
- The Hori Family Clock Shop operates as a working clock and watch shop. The main architectural interest lies in the exterior facade, which can be appreciated from the street. If the shop is open, you may be able to step inside, but please be respectful of the owners and their business.
- How do I get to the Hori Family Clock Shop from Marugame Station?
- The Hori Family Clock Shop is located approximately 4 minutes on foot (about 250 meters) northeast of JR Marugame Station. Exit the station and walk northeast along the local streets toward the Nishi-Hirayama-chō neighborhood.
- Is there an admission fee to view the building?
- There is no admission fee. The building can be freely viewed from the public street. As it is a registered cultural property rather than a museum, there are no formal visiting hours for exterior viewing.
- What other registered cultural properties can I see near Marugame?
- Marugame and its surroundings feature several registered tangible cultural properties, including other early Shōwa-period commercial buildings in the city center. Marugame Castle itself, while designated as a more highly protected Important Cultural Property, is a must-visit nearby. The city also has interesting historical streetscapes worth exploring on foot.
Basic Information
| Name | Hori Family Clock Shop (堀家時計店 / Hori-ke Tokei-ten) |
|---|---|
| Cultural Property Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building), registered November 10, 2005 |
| Period of Construction | Early Shōwa period (1926–1988) |
| Structure | Two-story wooden building, hipped roof with Japanese clay tiles (san-gawara), mortar-plastered front facade; floor area approx. 125 m² |
| Architectural Style | Kanban-kenchiku (billboard architecture) |
| Original Use | Medical clinic (later converted to clock shop) |
| Address | 98 Nishi-Hirayama-chō, Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan |
| Access | Approximately 4 minutes on foot (250 m) from JR Marugame Station |
| Admission | Free (exterior viewing from public street) |
References
- 堀家時計店 — 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/181256
- 国指定文化財等データベース — 文化庁
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00012247
- 登録有形文化財（建造物） — 文化庁
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/toroku_yukei.html
- 看板建築 — Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9C%8B%E6%9D%BF%E5%BB%BA%E7%AF%89
- 歴史・文化財 — 丸亀市公式ホームページ
- https://www.city.marugame.lg.jp/page/1009.html
- 丸亀城 — 丸亀市観光協会
- https://www.love-marugame.jp/spot/295
Last verified: 2026.03.26