Kamebishi No. 12 Warehouse
Toward the north of the eastern edge, abutting the north gable of the No. 11 warehouse and running north-south, stands the No. 12 warehouse. At about 7.4 by 6 meters, it is marked by an asymmetric maneki roof whose eastern slope runs long. Its exterior was originally charred-cedar vertical boarding, and drip tiles set into the eastern face give it variety.
Founded in 1753 by the Okada family, Kamebishi has brewed soy sauce in Hikita for more than two hundred and seventy years. In an age when koji-making was almost entirely mechanized, it alone held to the mushiro-koji method and is now the last brewery in the country to use it.
The roof is a maneki form, long on the east and short on the west, making an asymmetric silhouette. The walls were originally charred-cedar vertical boards, the timber scorched to char the surface for durability and rot resistance. Several courses of drip tiles set into the eastern face shed rainwater and protect the wall, while their horizontal lines animate the exterior.
Why It Matters
At 42 square meters it is the smallest of the eighteen registered buildings, yet it concentrates a set of design features: the maneki roof, charred-cedar boarding and drip tiles. The board-clad texture, unlike the white plaster or red ochre of the dozo stores, is this building's character and shows the range of structures across the site.
The heart of Kamebishi's craft is the mushiro-koji method, in which koji is grown on hand-woven mats rather than in machines. The mats draw off excess water and even out the temperature, and the koji that results carries a character the family regards as the source of its flavor.
What to Notice
Kamebishi is known for the deep red of its walls. The family has painted the buildings in bengara, a red-ochre finish, so that a continuous red frontage runs along the street beneath the grey tiles, a scene particular to this brewery.
Seen from the side, the maneki roof clearly runs long only on the east. Look too at the horizontal lines of the drip tiles on the east face and the black vertical grain of the charred-cedar boards. Small as it is, this store packs in points of interest and wears a different face from the other stores.
At the on-site shop you can sample and purchase soy sauce and moromi, and try soy-flavored treats; a small tea house offers udon dishes. As an operating brewery and private property, the compound keeps most buildings closed to visitors, with hours varying by season, so checking in advance is recommended.
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Q&A
- What is the Kamebishi No. 12 Warehouse?
- It is one of eighteen buildings at the Kamebishi soy sauce brewery in Hikita, Higashikagawa, Kagawa Prefecture, all registered as Tangible Cultural Properties in 2003. This building dates to the late Taisho period and served as the smallest store, notable for its asymmetric maneki roof.
- What is the mushiro-koji method that Kamebishi keeps?
- It is a way of making koji by spreading inoculated steamed soybeans and roasted wheat on mats woven from rush or rice straw for a few days. The mats regulate moisture and even out the temperature. Kamebishi is the only brewery in Japan that still uses it.
- Can visitors go inside this building?
- This is a working brewery and private company property, and most buildings, including this one, are not open inside. The shop and tea house in other buildings on the site welcome visitors for soy sauce, moromi and udon; hours change with the season, so check before visiting.
- When and why was it designated?
- It was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property on 19 September 2003 under the criterion of contributing to the historic landscape of the nation. The listing recognizes it as part of the historic brewery compound whose red-ochre walls define the Hikita streetscape.
Basic Information
| Name | Kamebishi No. 12 Warehouse (かめびし十二号蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2174 Hikita, Higashikagawa, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), No. 37-0165 |
| Registered | Registered 19 September 2003 |
| Criterion | Contributing to the historic landscape of the nation |
| Date | late Taisho period |
| Structure | single-story timber structure, roofed in tile and partly sheet metal, building area 42 m2 |
| Count | 1 building |
| Owner | Kamebishi (limited partnership) |
| Access | Working brewery and private property; most buildings not open inside. Shop and tea house on site; hours vary by season. |
References
- 国指定文化財等データベース（文化庁）
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003608
- かめびし屋（東かがわ市観光情報サイト）
- https://higashikagawa.net/sightseeing/kamebishiya
- かめびし屋 公式サイト
- https://kamebishi.co.jp/
Last verified: 2026.07.02