A Postwar Guest Wing
The Nishioka Family Residence Annex (西岡家住宅離れ, Nishioka-ke Jūtaku Hanare) is a two-storey timber building of about 1953 at the back of the Nishioka family's property in Yasuda, Yasuda Town, Aki District, Kochi Prefecture, standing behind the main house at the western edge of the plot, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 October 2007. It covers 44 square metres.
The Nishioka Family Residence Annex measures 4.5 bays by 2.5 bays under a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles. The ground floor has 2 tatami rooms, and the upper floor has 2 Zashiki, formal rooms for receiving guests.
Why It Was Registered: A Local Look After the War
The annex is the youngest of the five registered parts of the Nishioka Family Residence. Nearly 70 years after the main house of about 1887, a two-storey building with upstairs guest rooms was added at the back of the plot.
Even so, its exterior follows the older ways of the Tosa region. The Agency for Cultural Affairs praises its weighty appearance and strong local character, and the Nishioka annex was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
A Tall Gable and Drip Tiles
With its ridge set high, the Nishioka Family Residence Annex has a broad triangular wall at each gable end. The bargeboards and other timber members are plastered over so that no wooden lines show, and across the white gable run rows of Mizukiri-gawara.
These drip tiles are set into the wall to throw rainwater clear and protect the plaster. They are a familiar detail on storehouses and town houses in Kochi, and it is telling to find them still in use on a building of about 1953.
Visiting
The Nishioka Family Residence Annex stands deep inside private grounds and is not open. Because it sits behind the main house at the western edge of the plot, the main house largely hides it from the road on the east.
Please do not enter the grounds or look over the walls; limit yourself to what can be seen from the street.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kochi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Nishioka Family Residence Annex
- [ Katsurahama Beach & Kochi Castle Ryoma Tour ]
Q&A
- When was the Nishioka Family Residence Annex built and registered?
- The national record dates it to about 1953. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 October 2007.
- What was the Nishioka Family Residence Annex used for?
- Receiving guests. It has 2 tatami rooms downstairs and 2 formal guest rooms upstairs.
- What does the Nishioka Family Residence Annex look like?
- A tall ridge gives it a large gable wall, with the bargeboards plastered over and rows of drip tiles showing on the white surface.
- Where is the Nishioka Family Residence Annex on the property?
- Behind the main house at the western edge of the plot. The storehouse stands just to its north.
- Can I visit the Nishioka Family Residence Annex?
- No. It is inside private grounds and not open, and the main house hides it from the road on the east.
Basic Information
| Name | Nishioka Family Residence Annex (西岡家住宅離れ) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1807 Yasuda, Yasuda-cho, Aki-gun, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2007/10/2 (Heisei 19) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-storey timber, tiled roof, building area 44 square metres |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (at the back of the plot, hard to see from the road) |
References
- 西岡家住宅離れ (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00006346
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings), Kochi Prefecture
- https://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/doc/2023062200186/
Last verified: 2026.09.28
