What Is the Omori Family Residence North Wall?
The Omori Family Residence North Wall (大森家住宅北塀, Ōmori-ke Jūtaku Kitabei) is a roofed timber wall that runs west from the main house of the Omori merchant family along the old Kikuchi Ōkan road in Yamaga, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, built around 1940 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 27 March 2018. It is 20 meters long and has a tiled roof.
Starting at the western end of the main house, the Omori Family Residence North Wall follows the street and closes off the north side of the lot. Yamaga City's list of cultural properties presents it as the wall facing the Kikuchi Ōkan.
A Plastered Face for the Street
The Omori Family Residence North Wall stands on a base of cut stone. Its street face is Ōkabe, a thick wall that hides the posts, finished in lime plaster according to Yamaga City. Under the eaves the plaster is built up in stepped moldings, a cornice known as Nokijabara.
A street face with no exposed wood follows the same thinking as the east wing of the main house, whose walls are plastered right up to the eaves. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits the Omori Family Residence North Wall with shaping the historic streetscape together with the house. Seen from the road, house front and wall read as one continuous surface running along the street.
Carpentry on the Garden Side
The inner face of the Omori Family Residence North Wall is a contrast. Here it is Shinkabe, with the posts left visible, and Udeki arms cantilevered from the posts carry the eave beam. Under each arm sits a Mochiokuri bracket carved with a decorative pattern, the kind of ornament Japanese carpenters call eyō.
The eave soffit is lined with boards, and the roof is a pitched Kirizuma-zukuri laid with Sangawara-buki pantiles. The street gets a fire-resistant plaster face; the garden gets the carpenter's work. One wall, two quite different finishes.
The Omori Family Residence North Wall is registration number 43-172, listed for its contribution to the historic landscape.
Visiting
The outer face of the Omori Family Residence North Wall can be seen at any time from the old Kikuchi Ōkan. From the opposite side of the road, the cut-stone base, the plain plastered face and the stepped cornice are all in view at once.
The inner face with its brackets looks onto the garden of a private home and cannot be seen from outside. Please stay off the property and keep clear of passing traffic when you stop to look.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kumamoto
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Omori Family Residence North Wall
- [ Kumamoto Castle & Mt. Aso Volcano Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Omori Family Residence North Wall built?
- Around 1940, according to the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- How long is the Omori Family Residence North Wall?
- It is 20 meters long, running west from the end of the main house along the old Kikuchi Ōkan.
- How do the two sides of the Omori Family Residence North Wall differ?
- The street side is a thick plastered wall with a stepped cornice. The garden side leaves its posts exposed, and carved brackets under timber arms support the eave beam.
- When was the Omori Family Residence North Wall registered as a cultural property?
- On 27 March 2018, as Registered Tangible Cultural Property number 43-172.
- Can I see the Omori Family Residence North Wall?
- Yes, its outer face is visible from the old Kikuchi Ōkan road. The garden side is on private land and cannot be seen.
Basic Information
| Name | Omori Family Residence North Wall (大森家住宅北塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 47 Yamaga and other lots, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building), Registration No. 43-172 |
| Year Designated | Registered 27 March 2018 |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled roof, 20 meters long |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Outer face visible from the street |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: 大森家住宅北塀 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012260
- Cultural Heritage Online: 大森家住宅北塀 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/389341
- List of Designated Cultural Properties in Yamaga City (Yamaga City)
- https://www.city.yamaga.kumamoto.jp/kiji00396/3_96_11829_up_ktyrydo6.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.28
