What Is the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall?
The Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall (赤井家住宅土塀, Akai-ke Jūtaku Dobei) in Ueno-Shinobicho, Iga City, Mie Prefecture, is a tile-capped earthen wall built in 1895 and repaired in 1957, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on September 10, 2010.
The wall stands in three sections: one running north from the nagayamon gate along the east side of the lot, one filling the gap between the gate and the storehouse, and one running west from the storehouse along the south side. That is why its address covers several lot numbers. A small wooden gate (kido-mon) opens midway along the southern section.
The sources give two different lengths. The structure field of the Agency for Cultural Affairs database says 48 meters in total, while the description on the same page says 54 meters. The published record does not settle which is right, so both are shown here. The wall stands about 2 meters high.
Why It Was Registered
The Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits it with giving the street the character of a former samurai quarter.
The gate and storehouse are individual buildings; the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall is what links them and draws the outline of the property along the street. Walk down Nakanotachimachi-dori and the samurai-house frontage reads as unbroken because of this wall.
What to Look For
The Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall rises from a base of cut stone. Its face is left at the intermediate coat of earth plaster, without a smooth top coat, and the top is capped with pantiles.
Look closely at either side of the small south gate. Iga City's heritage assessment notes that the wall differs in height on each side of the gate and that the foundation stones differ in shape. What looks like one continuous wall was not built or repaired all at once, and with two dates on record, 1895 and 1957, it is worth searching for the seams.
The south gate served as a side entrance to the main house. It has a pantile roof and plank doors that open inward. The nagayamon was the formal entrance; this gate was the side door to the house.
Along Nakanotachimachi-dori, tall Inuyarai, low guards of slender battens, stand at the foot of the wall to keep rain splash and dirt off the plaster and add a fine vertical rhythm to the street front.
Visiting
The sections of the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall north of the gate and between the gate and storehouse face the street and can be seen at any time. The inuyarai are on this side as well.
The southern section and its gate can also be seen from inside. Enter the grounds during free viewing hours, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Wednesdays and December 29 to January 3), and walk along the south wall to find where the height and foundation stones change on either side of the gate.
Please do not touch or lean on the plaster or tiles. No official photography policy could be found, but the street side can be viewed from the public road.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall
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Q&A
- When was the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall built and registered?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to 1895, with repairs in 1957. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on September 10, 2010.
- How long is the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall?
- The Agency's database gives 48 meters in its structure field and 54 meters in its description. The wall is about 2 meters high.
- Where are the sections of the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall?
- One runs north from the nagayamon gate, one links the gate and the storehouse, and one runs west from the storehouse along the south side, with a small gate in its middle.
- What details should I look for on the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall?
- Look for the cut-stone base, the rough intermediate-coat plaster, the change in height and foundation stones at the south gate, and the tall inuyarai along the street.
- Can I see the Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall at any time?
- The street-side sections are visible at any time. To see the south wall and its gate from inside, visit between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on open days.
Basic Information
| Name | Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall (赤井家住宅土塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2491-1 and other lots, Ueno-Shinobicho, Iga City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered September 10, 2010 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen wall with pantile coping, total length 48 meters (54 meters in the description), about 2 meters high, with a small gate |
| Owner | Iga City |
| Public Access | Open (street side at any time; grounds free from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed Wednesdays and December 29 to January 3) |
References
- Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008302
- Akai Family Residence Earthen Wall (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/145834
- Heritage assessment of the Akai Family Residence (Iga City, PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.city.iga.lg.jp/cmsfiles/contents/0000003/3149/syoken.pdf
- Registered Tangible Cultural Property Akai Family Residence (Iga City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.iga.lg.jp/0000003149.html
Last verified: 2026.09.29
