What the Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall Is
The Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall (森澤家住宅外塀, Morisawa-ke jūtaku sotobei) is a middle Meiji-period timber wall in Doi, Aki City, Kochi Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 10 November 2005. It links the buildings along the east side of the estate and closes the perimeter between them, with a length of 21 metres.
It stands on the perimeter stone wall. The outer face is clad in battened clapboard, it is propped by posts on the inner side, and it is topped with a small gabled coping of pantiles.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as running 2.9 metres from the north end of the gatehouse and 20.6 metres from the north end of the pickling room. East of the main house, the eaves of the main house project in place of the wall.
Why It Was Registered
The Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, as part of the eastern perimeter of the estate.
Its job is to fill the gaps between the buildings on the east side. From the south, the gatehouse, the pickling room, the east end of the main house and the annex stand along this edge, and the outer wall joins them with boarding. Wall and building alternate, turning the east side into one continuous front.
The finish matches the buildings too. The battened clapboard on its outer face is the same as the lower walls of the gatehouse and pickling room. The whole east face was treated consistently, so that the wall does not stand out from the buildings it connects.
What to Look For
When you look at the outer wall, look at the joints as well as the wall. The 2.9-metre stretch from the gatehouse to the pickling room is short, a few paces of boarding tying two buildings together. The 20.6-metre stretch north of the pickling room is long and covers most of the east side.
Take in the stone wall beneath it at the same time. On the east side the stonework doubles as the foundation of the buildings, and the outer wall sits on top of it. Stone footing, board wall, tiled coping: three layers run along the east side regardless of whether a wall or a building stands above.
One point on the figures: the two stretches add up to 23.5 metres, not the 21 metres recorded as the length. The difference may come down to whether the section covered by the main house's eaves is counted, but the registry does not say.
Visiting
No opening of the Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall has been announced (checked 25 September 2026). Standing on the eastern perimeter, its clapboard outer face may be visible from outside the grounds.
Please photograph only from outside the grounds. Directions to the estate are on the Morisawa Family Residence page.
Q&A
- What is the Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall?
- A Meiji timber wall on the east side of the estate that links the buildings along that edge, standing on the perimeter stone wall.
- How long is the Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall?
- The registry gives its length as 21 metres, but also describes two stretches of 2.9 metres and 20.6 metres, which add up to 23.5 metres.
- How is the Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall finished?
- With battened clapboard on the outer face and a small gabled coping of pantiles on top.
- How does the Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall meet the main house?
- East of the main house, the main house's eaves project to continue the perimeter in place of the wall.
- Can you see the Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall?
- No opening has been announced, but as it stands on the eastern perimeter its outer face may be visible from outside.
Basic Information
| Name | Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall (森澤家住宅外塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 559 Doi, Aki City, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building), No. 39-0207 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/11/10 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled coping, length 21 metres |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (exterior from outside only) |
References
- Cultural Heritage Database (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Morisawa Family Residence Outer Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005053
- Kochi Prefecture: Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings)
- https://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/doc/2023062200186/
Last verified: 2026.09.25
