A Storehouse Opened to Show Natural Brewing
The Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse (マルキン醤油第五号発酵蔵) is a soy sauce brewing storehouse of 1908–1909 in Noma, Shodoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 18, 2000 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey earthen-walled building with a tile roof and a building area of 698 square metres; registration number 37-0056.
A Matching Storehouse Built Alongside
According to the Agency, the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse stands alongside, to the west of, the No. 2 fermentation storehouse; it is about 25 metres shorter but built the same way. It is opened inside to show the natural brewing of soy sauce, which makes it essential to the museum.
No storehouse called No. 2 is registered, and on the database coordinates the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse lies just west of the No. 4 storehouse. If the comparison is with No. 4 (about 94 metres), No. 5 would be roughly 69 metres long, but which building the description means could not be confirmed.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency describes the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse as essential to the museum and an important part of the historic appearance of the factory, and registered it as contributing to the historic landscape of the country.
What to Look For
The Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse shares its construction with the No. 4 storehouse beside it, so the pair invite a side-by-side look at their white walls and tiled roofs, and at the difference in length.
At 698 square metres it is the smallest of the four registered buildings at Marukin Soy Sauce, yet it is still a working storehouse where soy sauce ferments naturally inside.
Visiting
The Agency says the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse is opened inside to show the natural brewing process. That reflects the time of registration, and no current official notice naming this building was found (November 2026).
The Shodoshima Tourism Association mentions a gallery stage overlooking the vats in a natural brewing storehouse about three minutes' walk from the museum. Whether that is the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse is worth checking with the museum (telephone 0879-82-0047) before you go.
Q&A
- When was the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse built?
- In 1908–1909 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I see inside the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse?
- The Agency says it is opened to show natural brewing, but that dates from registration; check current access with the museum.
- Where does the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse stand?
- The Agency places it west of the No. 2 storehouse; on the database coordinates it lies just west of the No. 4 storehouse.
- How large is the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse?
- A single-storey earthen-walled building with a tile roof and a building area of 698 square metres (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse registered?
- On October 18, 2000 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse (マルキン醤油第五号発酵蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1850 Noma-ko, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2000/10/18 (Heisei 12) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen-walled, single-storey, tile roof, building area 698 m² |
| Owner | Marukin Chuyu Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Opened to show natural brewing at registration; current access to be checked |
References
- Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00001957
- Marukin Soy Sauce No. 5 Fermentation Storehouse (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/115037
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties in Kagawa (Kagawa Prefectural Board of Education, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.kagawa.lg.jp/kenkyoui/shogaigakushu/bunkazai/culturalassets/culturalassets_16.html
- Marukin Soy Sauce Museum (Shodoshima Tourism Association, Japanese)
- https://shodoshima.or.jp/sightseeing/spot/cms-242/
- Marukin Soy Sauce Museum (Morita Co., Ltd., Japanese)
- https://marukin.moritakk.com/kinenkan/
Last verified: 2026.11.12
