About the Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall
The Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall (旧三浦家住宅ブロック塀, Kyū Miura-ke Jūtaku Burokkubei) is a concrete block wall of the Taisho era (1912 to 1926) in Aokicho, Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture, entered on the register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 25, 2016. It runs north for 8.2 meters from the east face of the corner shop, along the street on the east side of the property.
Rectangular cement blocks are laid eleven courses high on a concrete footing and topped with a small sangawara pantile roof. Toward the north end is a Kugurido, a low wicket door, and on the inner side a storage shed is built against the wall, its roof continuing from the wall's own.
Why It Was Registered
The Miura Block Wall was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as a wall of a characteristically modern type that helps give the residence its setting.
The wall is cement block; the roof on top is Japanese tile. The Susaki Machikado Gallery presents it as a meeting of modern mortar block and a traditional tiled roof. Where the Front Gate and Wall finishes the south side in zelkova and fitted stone, the east side was closed with a new industrial material, both during the same Taisho years.
Most people picture a block wall as the plain, unadorned kind found around postwar housing. With its tiled roof, wicket door and built-in shed, the Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall is something rather different.
What to Look For
Eleven courses of block
The Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall is masonry of identical rectangular blocks laid in eleven courses. Count the joints as you look up and you can see that the number of courses sets the height of the wall.
A tiled cap
A small sangawara roof sits on the top course. It keeps rain off the top of the blocks, and from the street it carries the same line of tile as the other buildings of the residence.
Wicket door and shed
Near the north end is the kugurido, a small door you stoop to pass through. Inside, a shed is attached to the wall, and the wall's roof is extended to cover it, so the wall also serves as the outer wall of a small building.
Visiting
The Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall faces the east street, and its outer face can be seen at any time (checked September 27, 2026). Walk north from the east face of the shop to follow its full 8.2 meters to the wicket door near the end.
The inner face, with the shed, is inside the property; whether you can see it depends on the Susaki Machikado Gallery's opening hours and instructions. The wall is right on the road, so watch for traffic. Opening hours and directions are on the Former Miura Family Residence page.
Q&A
- When was the Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the Taisho era, 1912 to 1926.
- How is the Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall built?
- Rectangular cement blocks are laid eleven courses high on a concrete footing and capped with a pantile roof. There is a wicket door near the north end.
- How long is the Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall?
- 8.2 meters, running north from the east face of the shop.
- Why is the Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, as a wall of a characteristically modern type that helps set off the residence.
- Where can I see the Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall?
- It faces the east street, so the outer face can be seen at any time.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall (旧三浦家住宅ブロック塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1763 Aokicho, Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), registration no. 39-0289 |
| Year Designated | Registered February 25, 2016 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Concrete block masonry, tile roof, 8.2 meters long, with wicket door |
| Owner | Susaki City |
| Public Access | Outer face visible from the street at all times |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Former Miura Family Residence Block Wall (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011009
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Former Miura Family Residence Front Gate and Wall (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011008
- Former Miura House (Susaki Machikado Gallery, in Japanese)
- https://machikado-gallery.com/miuratei/
Last verified: 2026.09.27
