A Small Storehouse Behind the Courtyard
The Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse (旧細川家住宅中蔵, Kyū Hosokawa-ke Jūtaku Nakagura) at 136 Shinmachi, Nabari City, Mie Prefecture, is an early Meiji-period clay-walled storehouse that was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on January 8, 2009. It stands south of the main house on the Hase Kaidō, across the courtyard, and faces north toward the house.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records the Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse as a single-story dozō, a timber frame sealed in thick layers of clay and plaster for fire protection. It measures 5.9 by 3.9 meters, with a gabled roof of interlocking pan tiles and a building area of 23 square meters. Nabari City gives the floor area as 22.82 square meters, which makes it one of the two smallest buildings on the property.
The name nakagura, "middle storehouse," fits its position halfway between the main house at the front and the riverside storehouse at the back. Nabari City renovated it in 2008 along with the rest of the property.
Registered for the Landscape
The Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, under number 24-0075. The riverside storehouse was registered on the same grounds, while the main house and gate were recognized as models of design.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs singles out the placement of its windows and the finish of its eaves, calling its appearance distinctive. Because its front is what you see from the courtyard and from the back of the main house, it shapes the inward-facing view of the whole property.
Namako Walls and Offset Windows
The lower walls of the Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse are finished in namako-kabe: flat tiles laid on the wall with the joints built up in rounded ridges of white plaster, protecting the base of the wall from rain. The entrance sits toward the west end of the front, with double doors and a small canopy above.
Now look at the windows. Although the building has only one story, the windows are set at two levels, and the upper ones are shifted sideways from the lower ones rather than stacked. With no neat vertical line of openings, the small facade gains a sense of movement.
The eaves are the other detail to seek out. The Agency for Cultural Affairs says they are plastered in the manner of an okiyane, a separately framed roof set on top of a sealed storehouse body. Here the eave area is thickly coated so that it recalls that construction. In Nabari City's renovation plan, cracks in the plaster at the corners of the outer walls are listed for repair.
Visiting the Middle Storehouse
The Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse cannot be visited while the property is closed for renovation, which began on April 1, 2026, and is planned to last up to one year. It stands behind the main house on the south side of the courtyard, so it is hidden from the Hase Kaidō and cannot really be seen from outside during the closure.
After the reopening, step into the courtyard and view the front from the north. From there the namako base, the west-side entrance, the offset windows and the plastered eaves all come into view at once. Follow the new operator's guidance on access to the interior and on photography.
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Q&A
- Can I see the Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse from the street?
- Hardly. It stands behind the main house on the south side of the courtyard, so the main house blocks the view from the Hase Kaidō. You need to enter the courtyard to see its front.
- Is the Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse open to visitors now?
- No. The whole property has been closed for renovation since April 1, 2026, for up to one year.
- What are the features of the Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse?
- Namako tile walls at the base, windows set at two levels and offset from each other, and eaves plastered to resemble a separate roof. The entrance, with double doors and a canopy, is at the west end of the front.
- Why is the Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse a registered cultural property?
- It was registered on January 8, 2009, for its contribution to the historic landscape. Its registration number is 24-0075.
- How large is the Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse?
- It is a single-story clay-walled storehouse measuring 5.9 by 3.9 meters, with a building area of 23 square meters and a gabled tile roof.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 136 Shinmachi, Nabari City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered January 8, 2009 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Clay-walled storehouse, single story, tiled roof; building area 23 square meters (5.9 m by 3.9 m) |
| Owner | Nabari City |
| Public Access | Closed for renovation (from 2026, up to 1 year); hardly visible from outside |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Former Hosokawa Family Residence Middle Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007506
- Former Hosokawa Residence Yanase-shuku, Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Nabari City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.nabari.lg.jp/s044/010/050/10/070/090/270/20150401085353.html
- Call for proposals and selection result for the use of Yanase-shuku (Nabari City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.nabari.lg.jp/s044/010/050/10/20250521154708.html
- Appendix 2: Planned works for the proposed use (Nabari City, Japanese PDF)
- https://www.city.nabari.lg.jp/s044/010/050/10/bessi-2.kouji.pdf
- Temporary closure of Yanase-shuku for renovation (Nabari City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.nabari.lg.jp/s044/010/050/10/070/090/20191011144419.html
Last verified: 2026.09.29
