The Wall Along the North Boundary
The Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall and Service Gate (長井家住宅（梅屋）外塀及び通用門) are a wall and side entrance of around 1931 in Higashinagashima, Kihoku-cho, Mie Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on June 24, 2021. The wall closes the north edge of the compound, with a service gate for everyday comings and goings partway along.
The wall starts at the east gable of the Maid's Room and runs east, steps inward at the service gate, then turns south to meet the northwest corner of the East Storehouse. It is timber with a tiled roof, 26 meters long, and the service gate has an opening of 2.1 meters.
Why It Was Registered
The Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall and Service Gate were registered for contributing to the historic landscape; the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the effect as neat and composed. By linking the Maid's Room and the East Storehouse, the wall turns the north side into one continuous face of buildings and fence.
Around 1931 the family also built the Connecting Corridor, the Inner Wall and the stone walls by the Main Gate. The Outer Wall belongs to that campaign and closed off the compound's perimeter.
What to Look For
Start at the base. Cut stones sit on a continuous concrete footing, and the posts stand on the stones, so a modern foundation and a traditional stone plinth share one wall. The pantile roof is carried on short cantilevered brackets (udegi) projecting from the posts.
The service gate has sliding lattice doors with small board canopies on both faces. Because the wall steps back to receive the gate, a sliver of space opens in front of it, the one point of depth along an otherwise straight line.
Visiting
The Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall and Service Gate enclose the property from the outside, and the Agency's photograph was taken from beyond the northeast corner. How much can be seen from a public road has not been confirmed, however. The service gate is a working entrance, so please do not linger in front of it or open it.
See the Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) page for viewing conditions across the estate.
Q&A
- When were the Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall and Service Gate built?
- Around 1931.
- Where does the Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall run?
- From the east gable of the Maid's Room eastward, stepping in at the service gate, then south to the northwest corner of the East Storehouse.
- How long is the Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall?
- The wall is 26 meters long, and the service gate has an opening of 2.1 meters.
- What does the Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Service Gate look like?
- It has sliding lattice doors with board canopies on both the outer and inner faces.
- Can you see the Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall and Service Gate?
- They form the outside of the property, but visibility from a public road has not been confirmed. Please do not open the gate or linger in front of it.
Basic Information
| Name | Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall and Service Gate |
|---|---|
| Location | 2495-1 Yobisaki, Higashinagashima, Kihoku-cho, Kitamuro-gun, Mie Prefecture, and other lots |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2021/6/24 (Reiwa 3) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Outer wall: timber, tiled roof, 26 meters long; service gate: opening 2.1 meters |
| Owner | Not published (not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (no interior opening announced) |
References
- Cultural Heritage Database (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Nagai Family Residence (Umeya) Outer Wall and Service Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00013823
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: Council for Cultural Affairs report on new registrations, March 19, 2021 (Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/pdf/93206101_04.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.26
