The Gate to the Compound
In front of the main house, close to the northwestern corner of the Meiji storehouse, stands the family's gate. It takes the form of a yakuimon, a gate type carried on two main pillars with two support pillars behind, so that the ridge sits forward of centre. This one is a variant of that form, with an opening of about 2.3 metres.
The members are relatively slender and there is little decoration, giving the gate a plain, workmanlike look. The roof is a gabled form in sangawara pantiles. Its double board doors are made to match the adjoining fence: the upper part is opened up and fitted with diagonal tasuki bracing, so gate and fence read as a single designed edge.
Why the Gate Was Registered
The gate was placed on the national register on 29 November 2016 as one of the six Yoshioka structures, under registration number 43-0162. The criterion applied across the group was that these works contribute to the historic character of the landscape.
A gate might seem a minor thing to register, but it is precisely the kind of element that defines how a compound meets the street. Built around 1883, at the same time the estate was being put in order, it and the matching fence set the tone for the whole frontage. Registering them as part of the group keeps that designed threshold intact.
What to Look For
Compare the gate doors with the fence beside them. The same diagonal tasuki bracing and the same open upper section run across both, a deliberate matching that is easy to miss until you notice the shared pattern. The slender timbers keep the gate from feeling heavy despite its tiled roof.
From the street the gate marks where the private grounds begin, framing a view back toward the storehouses and house. It is a working entrance to a private home, so please look from outside and do not enter. The gate and fence together are among the clearest expressions of why the compound was registered for its landscape value.
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Q&A
- What is a yakuimon?
- A gate type carried on two main front pillars with two smaller support pillars behind, which shifts the roof ridge forward. This gate is a variant of that form.
- How wide is the gate?
- The opening is about 2.3 metres. The timbers are fairly slender and there is little decoration.
- How is it related to the fence?
- The two are designed to match: the same diagonal tasuki bracing and open upper section run across both the gate doors and the fence.
- When was it built and registered?
- Built around 1883 and registered on 29 November 2016 under number 43-0162.
Basic Information
| Name | Yoshioka Residence, Yakuimon Gate (Yoshioka-ke Jūtaku Yakuimon) |
|---|---|
| Location | Imakoga, Kutami, Kamoto-machi, Yamaga, Kumamoto |
| Category | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Registered | 29 November 2016 |
| Registration No. | 43-0162 |
| Structure | Timber; tiled roof; frontage 2.3 m |
| Count | 1 building |
| Owner | Private (individual) |
| Access | Private residence; not generally open to the public |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (ACA) — Yoshioka Residence Yakuimon Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011430
- Yamaga City — List of Designated Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.yamaga.kumamoto.jp/kiji00396/index.html
- Yamaga City — Cultural Properties and Historic Sites
- https://www.city.yamaga.kumamoto.jp/list00191.html
Last verified: 2026.07.04