About the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls
The Nagatani-en Gates and Walls (長谷園門及び塀, Nagatani-en Mon oyobi Hei) are the three gates and 106 meters of walling around the residence of the Nagatani-en pottery in Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture; dated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs to the Taisho period (1912 to 1926), they became a single Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 26 March 2015.
The Nagatani-en Gates and Walls comprise the front gate before the main house, the west gate before the villa, and the courtyard gate between the main house and the front gate, together with earthen walls that run between the gates and close off the back of the residence. Mie Prefecture's summary dates them to the Meiji period with Taisho additions, which differs from the Agency's Taisho date. Meiji gates or walls may have been altered in the Taisho years, but the sources do not say which parts date from when.
A formal front gate, an elegant west gate, a copper-roofed inner gate
Each gate suits the building it serves. The front gate before the main house is a Shikyakumon, a four-legged gate with a tiled timber roof and an opening of 1.8 meters. With subsidiary posts set before and behind the main pillars, this is a gate of high standing, and the Agency describes it as dignified.
The west gate before the villa is an Udekimon, also timber with a tiled roof, 1.7 meters wide. Its roof rests on arms projecting from the posts, giving it a lighter look, and the Agency calls its design elegant, as befits the entrance to retirement quarters.
The courtyard gate between the main house and the front gate is the smallest, 1.3 meters wide, and is roofed in copper rather than tile. Having passed the front gate, a visitor goes through this second gate before reaching the main house.
Why the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls are registered
The Nagatani-en Gates and Walls were registered as structures that contribute to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency notes that features such as the vertical boarding on their lower walls were chosen to harmonize with the buildings on the site and to express the standing of the house.
The same boarded base appears on the storehouses, the annex, and the workshops. Sharing that band of material ties the residence together all the way to its outer edge. The three gates and 106 meters of wall enclose the residential compound of the main house, annex, villa, and two storehouses.
Seeing the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls
The residential area enclosed by the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls is not normally open, and visitors cannot pass through the gates.
We have not confirmed where the front gate, west gate, or walls can be seen from the lane or the walking area. Opening hours and directions for the walking area are on the Nagatani-en page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Mie
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Nagatani-en Gates and Walls
- [ Ise Grand Shrine & Shima Bay Cruise Tours ]
Q&A
- How many gates are part of the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls?
- Three: the front gate, the west gate, and the courtyard gate. Together with the earthen walls they are registered as a single property.
- What kind of gate is the front gate of the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls?
- A four-legged gate with a tiled timber roof and an opening of 1.8 meters, standing before the main house.
- How long are the walls of the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls?
- The earthen walls total 106 meters.
- How old are the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates them to the Taisho period (1912 to 1926); Mie Prefecture gives the Meiji period with Taisho additions.
- When did the Nagatani-en Gates and Walls become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 26 March 2015.
Basic Information
| Name | Nagatani-en Gates and Walls |
|---|---|
| Location | 569 and other lots, Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 26 March 2015 |
| Quantity | 1 building (front gate, west gate, courtyard gate, walls) |
| Dimensions | Front gate 1.8 meters wide, west gate 1.7 meters wide, courtyard gate 1.3 meters wide, walls 106 meters in total |
| Owner | Not listed (Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Residential area not normally open |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Nagatani-en Gates and Walls (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010475
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nagatani-en Gates and Walls (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/214607
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Nagatani-en Villa (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010465
- 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/
Last verified: 2026.10.05
