About Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1
Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 (長谷園展示室一, Nagatani-en Tenjishitsu Ichi) is a 2-story timber building of the Meiji period (1868 to 1912) on the lane at the Nagatani-en pottery in Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture; first used as a miso store and for other storage, it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 26 March 2015.
Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 stands just east of the thatched main house, with its ridge turned at a right angle to the house. It has a gabled (Kirizuma-zukuri) roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles and a building area of 156 square meters, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that it is the largest exhibition room on the site.
The entrance is in the south gable end, sheltered by a lean-to roof. Because that gable faces people walking along the lane, it makes a stronger impression from the street than almost any other Nagatani-en building.
Boards below, plaster above
The walls of Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 are vertical boarding on the ground floor and plaster on the upper floor. On the gable end the dark boarding and the white wall divide neatly into lower and upper halves, and a window is set into the upper floor of the south gable.
The building began as a miso store, among other uses, so the pottery family kept a store for household provisions right on the lane. Built as a storehouse, it now serves as a room for displaying pottery.
Mie Prefecture's summary of the November 2014 recommendation included photographs of the exterior and interior of Exhibition Room 1, along with the main house and Workshop 1.
Why Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 is registered
Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency cites both its role as the largest exhibition room and the character it gives the street.
Walking the lane, the Meiji buildings follow one another without a break: the thatched main house, Exhibition Room 1 to its east, Exhibition Room 2 facing it from the south, and Exhibition Room 3 further south. With its 2-story gable turned to the lane, Exhibition Room 1 steps the streetscape up between the low main house and the taller Exhibition Room 3.
Visiting Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1
Nagatani-en says its walking area includes three shop buildings, which appear to be Exhibition Rooms 1 to 3 on the lane. Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 can be entered free of charge during opening hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays but open on national holidays). These details were checked on the official Nagatani-en website on 5 October 2026 and may change.
For the exterior, stand on the lane facing the south gable. From there you can take in the change from boards to plaster, the upper window, and the lean-to over the door. Directions to the walking area are on the Nagatani-en page.
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Q&A
- What was Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 originally used for?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs records that it was first used as a miso store, among other things.
- Can I go inside Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1?
- Yes. It is one of the exhibition rooms in the walking area and can be visited free of charge from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays.
- How big is Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1?
- It is a 2-story timber building with a building area of 156 square meters, the largest exhibition room on the site according to the Agency.
- What does Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 look like from outside?
- It has a gabled pantile roof, vertical boarding on the ground floor, plaster above, and an entrance with a lean-to roof and an upper window in the south gable.
- When did Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 26 March 2015. It dates from the Meiji period (1868 to 1912).
Basic Information
| Name | Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | 569 Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 26 March 2015 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 156 square meters (2-story timber, gabled pantile roof) |
| Owner | Not listed (Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Open, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays, free admission |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010469
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nagatani-en Exhibition Room 1 (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/245045
- Mie Prefecture: Summary of the recommended properties (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/common/content/000371116.pdf
- Iga City Digital Museum: Nagatani-en buildings and kiln (Japanese)
- https://adeac.jp/iga-city/catalog/mp404530-100040
- Nagatani-en: Shop information (Japanese)
- https://igamono.co.jp/at-first/shop/
- Mie Prefecture Machikado Museum: Iga-yaki no Sato Nagatani-en (Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.pref.mie.lg.jp/Miebunka/detail?cls=mica_col06&pkey=0000000062
Last verified: 2026.10.05
