The Storehouse Beside the Clock House
The Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse (畠中家住宅（野良時計）蔵, Hatanaka-ke Jūtaku Nora-dokei Kura) is a small 2-storey timber storehouse built in 1887 on the Noradokei property in Doi, Aki City, Kochi Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 20 December 1996 together with the clock-tower house. It covers just 21 square metres and stands close to the main house.
Its registration number is 39-0002, following the main house's 39-0001, so the pair are the first two entries on Kochi Prefecture's list of registered buildings.
Why a Plain Storehouse Was Registered
The Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse was not registered for its size or refinement. The Agency for Cultural Affairs explains that, together with the house carrying the clock tower, it forms a view that sits comfortably in the quiet farmland and has long been loved locally. The criterion is the same as for the house: a contribution to the historic landscape.
The tower draws the eye, but without the storehouse the silhouette of the property would look thin. A tall house with a small plastered store beside it is the classic outline of a farming family's homestead.
Details Worth Finding
The storehouse is built in the Ōkabe manner: the timber frame is completely buried in thick plastered walls, so although it is recorded as a timber building, almost no wood shows on the outside.
The lower part of each wall is clad in boards, which protect the plaster from rain splashing up off the ground. The result is a clean two-tone elevation, white plaster above and timber below.
On the gable walls there is a small window, and above it a narrow hood of Mizukiri-gawara, the tiled drip course that sheds water off the wall. It is a modest touch for such a small building, yet it gives the blank gable a face.
The best way to look at it is not in isolation but in the same frame as the clock tower. That pairing is precisely what the registration describes.
How to Visit
The Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse stands inside a private property and its interior is closed. Viewing is from the road only, without entering the grounds. Because it stands beside the main house, you will see it from the same spot you use to look at the clock.
The gable window and the board skirting are hard to make out from a distance, and you cannot step over the property line for a closer look. A telephoto lens or binoculars will help with the details.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kochi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse
- [ Katsurahama Beach & Kochi Castle Ryoma Tour ]
Q&A
- Can I go inside the Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse?
- No. It stands on private land and the interior is not open. Please view it from the road.
- When was the Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse built and registered?
- It was built in 1887 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 20 December 1996, together with the main house. Its number is 39-0002.
- What kind of building is the Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse?
- It is a 2-storey timber storehouse with a tiled roof and a building area of 21 square metres, finished with thick plaster walls that hide the posts. The lower walls are boarded, and each gable has a small window under a little tiled hood.
- Why was the Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse registered?
- Because, together with the clock-tower house, it forms a well-loved view that blends into the quiet farmland. The criterion is its contribution to the historic landscape.
- Where should I stand to see the Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse?
- From the same road where you view the clock tower, since it stands beside the main house. Use binoculars for the details and stay outside the grounds.
Basic Information
| Name | Hatanaka Family Residence (Noradokei) Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 638-4 Doi, Aki City, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1996/12/20 (Heisei 8) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-storey timber building, tiled roof, building area 21 square metres |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (exterior viewable from the road) |
References
- 畠中家住宅（野良時計）蔵 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00000106
- 畠中家住宅（野良時計）蔵 (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/176326
- Noradokei (Aki City Tourist Association)
- https://www.akikanko.or.jp/kanko/noradokei.html
Last verified: 2026.09.27
