About the Nagatani-en Taishokan
The Nagatani-en Taishokan (長谷園大正館, Taisho Hall) is the former office of the Nagatani-en pottery in Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture, a single-story timber building of the late Taisho period (1919 to 1926) that became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 28 October 2011.
The Nagatani-en Taishokan stands at the western side of the grounds at the foot of the hill, raised on a tall stone retaining wall. It runs north to south under a Half-hipped roof half-hipped roof of pantiles, measures 8.9 meters by 7.9 meters, and covers 70 square meters. On the slope just to the southeast is the late Edo climbing kiln, registered on the same day.
These two were the first Nagatani-en properties to be registered. The remaining twelve, including the house and workshops, followed in 2015.
Big windows and an arched canopy
The walls of the Nagatani-en Taishokan are clad in overlapping Shitami-itabari weatherboards below and finished in plaster above. Large windows are cut into them, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs calls it an open, airy office, built to let plenty of hillside light into the office.
The building's signature is the arched canopy over the south entrance. Iga City's description also mentions a decorative window there. Together with the clipped gable of the half-hipped roof, the rounded canopy gives the Nagatani-en Taishokan a faintly Western air among the tiled and boarded buildings of the site.
Its height matters too. Looking up from below the stone wall, you can see that the office was set a level above the rest of the grounds.
Why the Nagatani-en Taishokan is registered
The Nagatani-en Taishokan was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. It shows that a Taisho-era pottery kept a separate building to run the business, apart from the places where the ware was made.
According to Nagatani-en's history, the fourth generation organized the firm and began trading as well as producing. The Taishokan is the office building that served that trade, and because it was registered together with the climbing kiln, the heart of production and the heart of management survive as a pair.
Visiting the Nagatani-en Taishokan
The Nagatani-en Taishokan is part of the public walking area. Nagatani-en presents its Taisho-era former office as a place to sit and take your time, and visitors can go in and use it as a rest space 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.
The arched canopy is best seen from the foot of the stone wall. From the Taishokan, walk to the climbing kiln on the slope to the southeast to see how the two registered properties relate. Directions to the walking area are on the Nagatani-en page.
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Q&A
- What was the Nagatani-en Taishokan used for?
- It was the pottery's office. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as an open office with large windows.
- Can I go inside the Nagatani-en Taishokan?
- Yes. It is part of the public walking area and serves as a rest space during opening hours, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays.
- What should I look for on the Nagatani-en Taishokan?
- The arched canopy over the south entrance, the weatherboarded and plastered walls, the half-hipped roof, and the tall stone wall it stands on.
- When was the Nagatani-en Taishokan built?
- The Agency's database dates it to the late Taisho period (1919 to 1926).
- When did the Nagatani-en Taishokan become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 28 October 2011. With the climbing kiln, it was the first Nagatani-en property to be registered.
Basic Information
| Name | Nagatani-en Taishokan |
|---|---|
| Location | 569 Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 28 October 2011 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 8.9 meters by 7.9 meters, building area 70 square meters (1-story timber, half-hipped pantile roof) |
| Owner | Not listed (Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Open as a rest space, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Tuesdays |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Nagatani-en Taishokan (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009028
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nagatani-en Taishokan (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/197168
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Nagatani-en Climbing Kiln (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009029
- 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/
- Nagatani-en: Company profile and history (Japanese)
- https://igamono.co.jp/about-us/company/
- Nagatani-en: Activities (Japanese)
- https://igamono.co.jp/at-first/effort/
Last verified: 2026.10.05
