Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura: the storehouse that shows its bones
The Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura (蔵の郷土館齋理屋敷業の蔵, "the storehouse of the family trade") in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, is a two-storey timber storehouse from the early Meiji period (1868–1882), registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 26, 2011.
It stands in line just north of the Sumai no Kura, its east face turned toward the family's main house. Most of the storehouses at Sairi Yashiki are dozo-zukuri, their frames buried in thick clay. This one is timber-framed, and the posts and horizontal tie beams (nuki) are left visible in the plastered walls. That is why it looks different from its neighbours at a glance.
Why it was registered
Under a detached gabled roof (okiyane) of sheet metal, the building measures 8.2 metres by 4.7 metres, covering 38 square metres, with its entrance in the gable end (tsumairi). On the east side a ground-floor doorway and an upper opening each hold paired doors finished in kakego-nuri, stepped plaster edges that seal shut against fire.
The walls are lime plaster, but instead of hiding the frame, the builders let the posts and ties show through. The Agency for Cultural Affairs calls it a distinctive exterior. Compare it with the Sumai no Kura next door, built in the same period, and the contrast between heavy earthen walls and an exposed timber grid is plain.
What to look for
According to the museum, the storehouse once held futomono (cotton and hemp cloth) and lacquered tray sets used at celebrations. Today it tells the story of the Saito businesses, from textiles and brewing to garment making and the town's electric light company. A 2019 town report described the ground floor as devoted to the men's work of the house and the upper floor to Sairi as a business enterprise.
Back outside, study the grid the posts and ties draw across the east wall. The Lightning Rod Tower rises just to the east, putting a Meiji storehouse and a Showa steel frame side by side.
Seeing the Nariwai no Kura
The storehouse is at the back of the compound, and its exhibits are included in Sairi Yashiki admission. From the reception in the Shop Storehouse, cross the garden and continue past the Sumai no Kura. Displays may be rearranged, so check what is on during your visit.
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Q&A
- How do you read the name of the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura?
- Nariwai no Kura, meaning the storehouse of the family trade. That is the reading in the national database.
- How is the Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura different from the other storehouses?
- It is timber-framed rather than earth-walled, and its plastered walls show the posts and tie beams, which the Agency for Cultural Affairs calls distinctive.
- What is exhibited in the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura?
- Displays on the Saito family's trades and businesses. Originally it stored cloth and celebration tray sets.
- When was the Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura built?
- In the early Meiji period (1868–1882).
- Can visitors go inside the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura?
- Yes, with Sairi Yashiki admission. It stands just north of the Sumai no Kura.
Basic Information
| Name | Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura (蔵の郷土館齋理屋敷業の蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 25 Machinishi, Marumori Town, Igu District, Miyagi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2011/1/26 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-storey timber building, sheet-metal roof, building area 38 square metres (8.2 metres long, 4.7 metres deep) |
| Owner | Marumori Town |
| Public Access | Open to the public as a museum exhibition building (admission charged) |
References
- Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Nariwai no Kura (Agency for Cultural Affairs database, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008401
- About Sairi Yashiki (official website, Japanese)
- https://sairiyashiki.com/about/
- Overview of six Marumori tourism facilities including Sairi Yashiki (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 2019, Japanese)
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001273141.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.24
