What Is the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall?
The Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall (見世土井家住宅北通用門及び土塀, Misedoi-ke Jūtaku Kita Tsūyōmon oyobi Dobei) is the timber service gate and earthen wall of the Taishō era (1912 to 1926) on the north side of the Misedoi estate in Asahi-cho, Owase City, Mie Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 4 August 2015. It is recorded at 79-2 Asahi-cho, a different lot number from the other eight structures.
The gate is an udeki-mon, a gate whose roof rests on arm brackets projecting from the posts, 1.8 metres wide with an east-west ridge and a gabled Sangawara-buki roof. Roofed Sodobei wing walls flank it, a Kugurido wicket door is set on the west side, and diagonal braces stand behind it for support.
East of the gate, an earthen wall runs for 23 metres with granite masonry and a tiled coping, following the side street that branches off the old Kumano road.
A Traditional Gate That Shapes the Back Street
The Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs says the pair forms the traditional streetscape along the north edge of the property.
Its date matters. It is Taishō-era work, older than both the 1931 main house and the early Shōwa concrete main gate. Even after the estate's front on the old road was remade in modern materials, the northern street kept a gate and wall of timber, earth and stone.
The result is one property with two faces: a Shōwa concrete front to the east and a Taishō timber back to the north. Comparing the two gates is the quickest way to see how the estate grew over several decades.
What to Look For
Study how the gate is built. The roof sits on brackets that project from the posts, and at the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall diagonal braces behind the gate keep it steady. Look for the braces and the depth of the gate becomes easy to read.
Note the wing walls and the wicket door on the west side, which let people pass without opening the main leaves. It is a practical arrangement for an entrance used every day.
Along the earthen wall to the east, look at the pairing of granite masonry below and tiles above. Its heavy, earthy texture is the opposite of the rendered concrete wall around the main gate.
Visiting the North Service Gate and Earthen Wall
The exterior of the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall can be seen from the side street north of the estate, with no fee or time restrictions.
Passing through the gate to see the cultural properties is not permitted as a rule (checked 17 September 2026). Inside are the outdoor toilet and the well house, both screened with boards specifically against views from this gate, so please do not photograph through it.
Directions from the nearest station are on the Misedoi Family Residence page.
Q&A
- Can I see the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall from outside?
- Yes. It faces the side street north of the estate and is visible from the road. Entering the grounds to see the cultural properties is not permitted as a rule (checked 17 September 2026).
- When was the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall built?
- In the Taishō era, between 1912 and 1926, earlier than the main house of 1931.
- What type of gate is the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall?
- A 1.8-metre-wide bracket-armed timber gate (udeki-mon) with a gabled tiled roof, diagonal braces at the back, roofed wing walls on both sides and a wicket door on the west.
- How long is the earthen wall of the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall?
- 23 metres, with granite masonry and a tiled coping.
- What is the address of the Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall?
- 79-2 Asahi-cho, Owase City, Mie Prefecture, a different registered lot from the other eight structures (72 Asahi-cho and adjoining lots).
Basic Information
| Name | Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall (見世土井家住宅北通用門及び土塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 79-2 Asahi-cho, Owase City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), register no. 24-0215 |
| Year Designated | Registered 4 August 2015 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | North service gate: wooden, tiled roof, opening 1.8 metres, with wing walls and wicket door / Earthen wall: tiled roof, length 23 metres |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the northern side street. The estate does not admit sightseers as a rule. |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010624
- Cultural Heritage Online: Misedoi Family Residence North Service Gate and Earthen Wall (in Japanese)
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/235978
- Owase City: Misedoi Family Residence Main House and Eight Other Structures (in Japanese)
- https://www.city.owase.lg.jp/0000013066.html
- Owase City: Summary of the Nine Registered Structures (PDF, in Japanese)
- https://www.city.owase.lg.jp/cmsfiles/contents/0000013/13066/doimisegaiyou.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.17
