Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan: A 3-Storey Dozo Turned to the Lane
The Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan (麻吉旅館土蔵) is a late Edo-period earthen-walled storehouse, dating from between 1830 and 1867, in Nakanocho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture, and was entered on the national register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 9 February 2005.
It stands southeast of the Main Building, its ridge turned to follow the bend of the lane. The main block is 3 bays by 3 bays and 3 storeys high under a gabled roof (Kirizuma-zukuri) of pantiles, and a 2-storey front section about 4 bays long faces the Main Building. The register records it as a dozo of 3 storeys with a 2-storey part, covering 72 square metres.
Today it serves as the inn's archive.
Why It Was Registered
The Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan is registration number 24-0053, listed under the criterion of contributing to the historic landscape of the country, with the registration announced on 28 February 2005.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs opens its description with the siting. A storehouse is usually set square to its plot or its neighbours; this one follows the curve of the lane instead. As a result it never lines up with the Main Building, and it gives the lane an angle of its own.
The second point is the door of the front section, which opens at the level of the Main Building's second floor, the floor that holds the kitchen and family quarters. Goods could go in and out at the same height as the daily work of the house.
What to Look For
The outer walls are clad in Shitami-itabari: horizontal boards held by vertical battens notched to fit each board, a way of shielding earthen walls from rain. Climbing the lane, you see the notched battens cast a fine pattern of shadow.
Next, compare the ridge with the Main Building. Turned to the bend of the lane, the Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan never runs parallel to its neighbour, and the angle between them shifts as you go up the steps.
Finally, find the door of the front section, opening at the Main Building's second-floor level, an arrangement that only a sloping site makes possible.
Visiting the Storehouse
The storehouse is used as the inn's archive but is not a public museum. If you would like to see inside, contact the inn in advance; whether it can oblige depends on how busy it is.
The exterior can be seen from the lane beside it, where the board cladding is clearest. Ask before taking photographs indoors.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Mie
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan
- [ Ise Grand Shrine & Shima Bay Cruise Tours ]
Q&A
- What is the Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan?
- A late Edo-period earthen-walled storehouse in Nakanocho, Ise City, of 3 storeys with a 2-storey part and 72 square metres in area. It stands southeast of the Main Building, its ridge turned to follow a bending lane.
- Why is the Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan not parallel to the Main Building?
- The lane beside it curves, and the storehouse was angled to follow that curve. The Agency for Cultural Affairs mentions this siting first in its description.
- When was the Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan registered as a cultural property?
- It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 9 February 2005, as number 24-0053, under the criterion of contributing to the historic landscape.
- How are the walls of the Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan finished?
- With sasarako shitamiita cladding: horizontal boards held by vertical battens notched to fit them, which protects the earthen walls from rain.
- Can I visit the archive in the Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan?
- It is not a public museum, so contact the inn in advance if you would like to see inside. The exterior can be seen from the lane.
Basic Information
| Name | Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan (麻吉旅館土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 109-3 Nakanocho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/2/9 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen-walled dozo, 3 storeys with a 2-storey part, tiled roof, building area 72 square metres |
| Owner | Asakichi Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Used as the inn's archive; ask the inn about seeing inside. Exterior visible from the lane |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004585
- Cultural Heritage Online: Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/151195
- Ise City: Storehouse of Asakichi Ryokan (Japanese)
- https://www.city.ise.mie.jp/cul_spo_edu/culture/bunkazai_shiseki/bunkazai/yukei/1005927.html
Last verified: 2026.09.27
