The Storehouse on the Corner
The Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse (東山家住宅蔵) is an earthen storehouse of about 1905 in Nahari Town, Aki District, Kochi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on January 31, 2003 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a 2-storey earthen storehouse with a tiled roof and a building area of 87 square metres; registration number 39-0069.
The Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse stands north of the main house, on the northwest corner of the lot (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Two Storehouses Joined Together
The Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse is in fact two earthen storehouses joined together (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The 2-storey one measures 4 and a half bays by 2 and a half, with a gabled pantile roof running north to south. Attached to its east side is a single-storey storehouse 2 and a half bays long, its gabled pantile roof running east to west, with a lean-to extending to the south.
Because the ridges turn through a right angle, the pair forms something close to an L in plan.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered the Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse for its contribution to the historic landscape. Its description notes that, from the corner of the lot, the storehouse shows the street its Tosa-plastered walls and mizukiri-gawara tile ledges, and calls it a centrepiece of the Nahari townscape. Of the four registered parts of the compound, it is the one most closely tied to the look of the town.
What to Look For
Look at the walls facing the corner: the mizukiri-gawara, small tiled ledges set horizontally partway up the wall, and the Tosa plaster behind them (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The ledges throw off rain running down the wall and protect the plaster. Tosa plaster is made with fermented straw fibre and no seaweed glue, and is known for going on thick.
Standing on a corner, the walls can be seen from 2 directions. Notice, too, the difference in height between the 2-storey and single-storey parts and the change in the direction of their ridges.
Visiting
No official information was found on access to the interior of the Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse. Because it stands on the northwest corner of the lot and shows its plastered walls and tile ledges to the street (Agency for Cultural Affairs), the exterior can be seen from the road. Please do not enter the property.
Q&A
- When was the Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse built?
- In about 1905 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of building is the Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse?
- A 2-storey earthen storehouse with a gabled pantile roof, with a single-storey storehouse joined to its east side.
- What should I look for at the Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse?
- The tile ledges and Tosa-plastered walls on the corner, which the Agency calls a centrepiece of the Nahari townscape.
- Can I visit the Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse?
- No official information on interior access was found; the exterior can be seen from the street.
- When was the Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse registered?
- On January 31, 2003 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse (東山家住宅蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | Otsu 1281-2, Nahari Town, Aki District, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2003/01/31 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen-walled storehouse, 2 storeys, tiled roof, 87 m² |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency database |
| Public Access | Exterior from the street (no information on interior access) |
References
- Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00003165
- Higashiyama Family Residence Storehouse (Cultural Heritage Online, Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/149775
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Structures), Towns and Villages (Kochi Prefecture, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/doc/2024031100049/
Last verified: 2026.10.19
