A Small Storehouse on the Lane
The Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse (西岡家住宅蔵, Nishioka-ke Jūtaku Kura) is a two-storey Dozo-zukuri clay-walled storehouse of about 1887 on the north side of the Nishioka family's property in Yasuda, Yasuda Town, Aki District, Kochi Prefecture, standing right against the lane along the plot's northern edge, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 October 2007. At 17 square metres it is the smallest of the five registered parts.
The Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse measures 2.5 bays by 2 bays under a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles, and it stands just north of the annex.
Why It Was Registered: A Gable Facing the Street
The Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse is set with its gable end touching the lane to the north. Across that gable wall run two tiers of Mizukiri-gawara, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes this as creating a streetscape peculiar to the Tosa region.
Even on a small storehouse, two lines of tile across a white wall facing the street catch the eye. It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, and of all the Nishioka buildings it is the one most directly part of the street scene.
Floating Roof and Plaster Band
The roof of the Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse is an Okiyane: a separate roof frame set on top of the clay-sealed storehouse body. If fire took the roof, the body below and the goods inside could still survive.
Beneath the eaves the wall carries a Hachimaki, a thickened band of plaster that strengthens fire protection around the eaves. On the east side is a single-leaf doorway sheltered by a small Hisashi eave.
Visiting
The Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse is privately owned and its interior is not open. Because its gable end meets the lane to the north, the gable wall with its two tiers of drip tiles can be seen from that lane.
The east side with the doorway faces into the property and is hard to see from the road. Please do not touch the walls or walk around onto the grounds.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kochi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse
- [ Katsurahama Beach & Kochi Castle Ryoma Tour ]
Q&A
- When was the Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse built and registered?
- The national record dates it to about 1887. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 October 2007.
- What is the highlight of the Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse?
- The gable wall on the lane, with two tiers of drip tiles, which the official description calls a streetscape peculiar to the Tosa region.
- What is the floating roof on the Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse?
- An okiyane, a separate roof frame set on the clay-sealed body so that the body can survive even if the roof burns.
- How big is the Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse?
- It is a two-storey storehouse of 2.5 by 2 bays with a building area of 17 square metres.
- Where can I see the Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse?
- From the lane on the north side of the property, which its gable end touches. The interior is not open, and the east doorway is hard to see from the road.
Basic Information
| Name | Nishioka Family Residence Storehouse (西岡家住宅蔵) |
|---|---|
| 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 clay-walled storehouse, tiled roof, building area 17 square metres |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (exterior from the north lane only) |
References
- 西岡家住宅蔵 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00006347
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings), Kochi Prefecture
- https://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/doc/2023062200186/
Last verified: 2026.09.28
