About the Murao Family Residence South Storehouse
The Murao Family Residence South Storehouse (村尾家住宅南土蔵, Murao-ke Jūtaku Minami Dozō) is a two-story earthen-walled storehouse built around 1897 in Nishiueta-chō, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2003.
It began as the household rice store and stands southeast of the Murao main house. The building is a Dozo-zukuri storehouse with its ridge running north and south, a Kirizuma-zukuri gable roof in heavy Hongawarabuki tiling, and a building area of 68 square meters. The walls are finished in white Shikkui plaster. The Murao barn adjoins it on the north.
Why the Murao South Storehouse was registered
The Murao South Storehouse was registered as a model of design. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes how carefully the whole building is made and how much thought went into each detail.
The roof is an Okiyane, a separate timber roof set on top of the sealed earthen body and tiled over. The plastered shell resists fire while the upper roof sheds the rain, a sensible arrangement for a building that held the rice harvest.
What to look for in the Murao South Storehouse
Each face of the Murao Family Residence South Storehouse is treated differently. The west side has two doorways under a Hisashi canopy. The south side has windows with vertical bars, and the east side is broken only by a small round window.
Doors where people came and went, barred windows for light, and one round opening in an otherwise blank wall: this handling of openings is the attention to detail the Agency describes.
Visiting the Murao Family Residence South Storehouse
The Murao Family Residence South Storehouse stands inside a private estate, and we found no notice of interior opening. We could not confirm which of its sides can be seen from outside. Please stay off the property and be considerate of the residents when taking photographs. Directions to the estate and notes on visiting are on the Murao Family Residence page.
Q&A
- What was the Murao Family Residence South Storehouse used for?
- It was originally the rice store. It stands southeast of the main house.
- What is the okiyane roof of the Murao South Storehouse?
- A separate timber roof set on top of the plastered earthen body and tiled over, so the shell resists fire and the upper roof takes the rain.
- What openings does the Murao South Storehouse have?
- Two doorways under a canopy on the west, barred windows on the south and a small round window on the east.
- Why is the Murao South Storehouse a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on March 18, 2003, as a model of design, for its careful construction and detailing.
- Can I visit the Murao Family Residence South Storehouse?
- It stands inside a private estate, and we found no notice of interior opening. Please do not enter the property.
Basic Information
| Name | Murao Family Residence South Storehouse (村尾家住宅南土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3186 Seijo, Nishiueta-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2003-03-18 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 68 square meters |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | No notice of public opening (private residence) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Murao Family Residence South Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003318
- Cultural Heritage Online: Murao Family Residence South Storehouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/139088
- Kagawa Prefecture: Registered Tangible Cultural Properties in Kagawa
- https://www.pref.kagawa.lg.jp/kenkyoui/shogaigakushu/bunkazai/culturalassets/culturalassets_16.html
Last verified: 2026.10.14
