A Bookshop in the Old Castle Town
The Nagasaki Jiro Bookstore (長崎次郎書店) is the building of one of the oldest bookshops in the city of 1924 in Shinmachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on January 16, 1998 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 175 square metres; registration number 43-0006.
A Timber Shop Clad in Brick
The Nagasaki Jiro Bookstore stands near the heart of the merchants' quarter of the old castle town, a two-storey timber building clad in brick (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Its shallow eaves, the small roofs on top of its screen-like walls, the decoration around the eaves and the row of unusual arches on the upper floor are its distinctive features (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it is widely known as one of the oldest bookshops in the city, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the row of unusual arches on the upper floor and the small roofs on top of the walls (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Nagasaki Jiro Co., Ltd. (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on its business or on visits was found.
Q&A
- When was the bookstore built?
- In 1924 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is the building made of?
- Timber, with its outer walls clad in brick.
- What does it look like?
- A brick-clad timber building with a row of unusual arches upstairs.
- Where is it?
- Near the heart of the old merchants' quarter of Kumamoto.
- When was the Nagasaki Jiro Bookstore registered?
- On January 16, 1998 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Nagasaki Jiro Bookstore (長崎次郎書店) |
|---|---|
| Location | 4-1-19 Shinmachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1998/01/16 (Heisei 10) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, 175 m² |
| Owner | Nagasaki Jiro Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Nagasaki Jiro Bookstore (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00000491
Last verified: 2026.10.19