About the Nagatani-en Storehouse
The Nagatani-en Storehouse (長谷園蔵, Nagatani-en Kura) is a 2-story earthen-walled Dozo-zukuri storehouse of the Meiji period (1868 to 1912) standing behind the main house of the Nagatani-en pottery in Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture, and it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 26 March 2015.
It is a small building, 4.9 meters by 3 meters with a footprint of 20 square meters, facing south against the back of the main house. The gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof is laid with Sangawara-buki pantiles, and a lean-to across the front links it to the annex to the northwest.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Nagatani-en Storehouse once held the account books. The business records, in other words, were kept not by the workshops but at the back of the family's own house.
Walls and an arched roof frame
The walls are finished in white plaster, with vertical boards fixed high up the base and a projecting Hachimaki band under the eaves. The boarded base shields the earthen wall from rain and splashback and matches the board-clad annex next door.
The unusual part of the Nagatani-en Storehouse is out of sight. The Agency records that the roof frame uses arched beams, which in turn carry the ridge struts and purlins. In most storehouses straight tie beams carry the struts; here the curved timbers take the load, making use of the natural bend in the wood.
Taking that much trouble over the roof of a storehouse only 3 meters deep says something about how this family built.
Why the Nagatani-en Storehouse is registered
The Nagatani-en Storehouse was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency points to its role as the account-book store and to the way it shapes the view of the main house's back garden.
Along the north side of the residence stand three buildings: this storehouse at the east, the annex in the middle, and the rear storehouse at the west. The Agency notes that the back of the annex was designed to match the storehouses on either side, and that all three together form the north face of the estate.
Iga City's digital museum gives the building area as 62 square meters, the same figure as the annex. This article follows the Agency's 20 square meters.
Seeing the Nagatani-en Storehouse
The Nagatani-en Storehouse sits at the back of the private residential area and is not normally open. It cannot be seen directly from the public walking area, and there is no opportunity to view the interior or the arched beams.
Opening hours and directions for the walking area are on the Nagatani-en page. As the smallest of the fourteen registered properties, the storehouse is best understood as part of the residence rather than as a stop on a visit.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Mie
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Nagatani-en Storehouse
- [ Ise Grand Shrine & Shima Bay Cruise Tours ]
Q&A
- What was the Nagatani-en Storehouse used for?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs records that it was once used to store the account books of the pottery.
- How big is the Nagatani-en Storehouse?
- It measures 4.9 meters by 3 meters, with a building area of 20 square meters, and has two stories under a gabled tiled roof.
- What is unusual about the structure of the Nagatani-en Storehouse?
- Its roof frame uses arched beams that carry the ridge struts and purlins.
- Can visitors see the Nagatani-en Storehouse?
- It stands behind the main house in the private residential area and is not normally open to visitors.
- When did the Nagatani-en Storehouse become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 26 March 2015, together with eleven other Nagatani-en buildings.
Basic Information
| Name | Nagatani-en Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 569 Marubashira, Iga City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 26 March 2015 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 4.9 meters by 3 meters, building area 20 square meters (2-story earthen storehouse) |
| Owner | Not listed (Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Not normally open |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Nagatani-en Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010467
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nagatani-en Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/278343
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Nagatani-en Annex (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010466
- 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
