The Brewery Turned Museum
The Ebiki Former Sake Brewery (Kura no Shiryokan) (海老喜旧酒蔵（蔵の資料館）, Ebiki Kyū-sakagura) is a late Edo-period (1830–1868) sake brewery storehouse in the north-west corner of the Ebiki premises in Toyoma-machi, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 10 May 2018. It is a Dozo-zukuri earthen storehouse, single-storey with a partial upper floor, tiled, with a building area of 153 square metres, altered in 1979 and 2012, registration number 04-157.
The Ebiki Former Sake Brewery is the largest of the eight Ebiki buildings and, since 1992, has been open as the Kura no Shiryokan (Storehouse Museum). It is the one Ebiki building that visitors can walk into.
Sake Until 1908
The Ebiki Former Sake Brewery was used for brewing sake until 1908; Tome City records the brand as Kimigayo. A shelf shrine to the god of sake is still in place on the upper floor.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape and describes it as a long storehouse that conveys traditional sake brewing. Ebiki's own account adds that for some 80 years after brewing stopped, hardly anyone went inside. Nothing was modernised because nothing needed to be, and that neglect is what kept it intact.
Beams in Threes
The Ebiki Former Sake Brewery faces south from the back corner of the lot. Its gabled kirizuma roof of pantiles runs east to west, the walls are white Shikkui plaster, and the lower walls are clad in vertical boards.
Inside, look up. The roof rests on sets of beams stacked three high, repeated at every ken (about 1.8 metres) and tied together with horizontal Nuki tie beams. The same frame recurs bay after bay down the length of the building, which is what gives the interior its rhythm.
The well that supplied water for brewing is still inside. Ebiki describes the storehouse as cool even in summer, with a smell of age that is hard to put into words.
Visiting the Kura no Shiryokan
The Ebiki Former Sake Brewery is open as the Kura no Shiryokan. Ebiki and Tome City give the hours as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission as 200 yen. The Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation lists closing days as irregular, a group rate of 160 yen for parties of 20 or more, and about 30 minutes for a visit.
There are deliberately no information panels. Ebiki says every visitor, even one arriving alone, is shown round with a spoken explanation, so the beams, the shrine shelf and the well are explained on the spot. Photography rules are not published; ask when you enter. Ebiki's toll-free number is 0120-2015-77.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Miyagi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ebiki Former Sake Brewery (Kura no Shiryokan)
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Q&A
- What are the opening hours and admission for the Ebiki Former Sake Brewery?
- The Kura no Shiryokan opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is 200 yen. Closing days are irregular, and groups of 20 or more pay 160 yen.
- Until when was sake brewed in the Ebiki Former Sake Brewery?
- It was used as a sake brewery until 1908. Tome City records the brand as Kimigayo.
- What should I look for inside the Ebiki Former Sake Brewery?
- The triple-tiered beams repeated at every bay and tied with nuki, the shrine shelf to the god of sake upstairs, and the old brewing well.
- When was the Ebiki Former Sake Brewery built and registered?
- The Ebiki Former Sake Brewery dates from the late Edo period (1830–1868), was altered in 1979 and 2012, and was registered on 10 May 2018.
- Are there information panels in the Ebiki Former Sake Brewery?
- No. Ebiki guides every visitor in person, so there are deliberately no panels.
Basic Information
| Name | Ebiki Former Sake Brewery (Kura no Shiryokan) |
|---|---|
| Location | 22 Teraike Mikkamachi, Toyoma-machi, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 10 May 2018 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen storehouse, single storey with partial upper floor, tiled roof, building area 153 square metres |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Open as the Kura no Shiryokan (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 200 yen, closed irregularly) |
References
- 海老喜旧酒蔵（蔵の資料館） (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00012277
- Registration of Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings) recommended (Miyagi Prefecture)
- https://www.pref.miyagi.jp/soshiki/bunkazai/touroku-kennzoubutu.html
- List of cultural properties (Tome City Board of Education)
- https://www.city.tome.miyagi.jp/bunkazai/kurashi/kosodate/kyoikuinkai/shakaikyoiku/bunkazai.html
- Exploring history (Tome City)
- https://www.city.tome.miyagi.jp/kanko/tourism/see/rekishi/index.html
- Kura no Shiryokan (Ebiki official site)
- https://ebiki.com/?mode=f3
- Kura no Shiryokan (Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation)
- https://www.miyagi-kankou.or.jp/theme/detail.php?id=11787
Last verified: 2026.09.29
