Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower: 26 metres of steel over the storehouses
The Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower (蔵の郷土館齋理屋敷避雷針用鉄塔) in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, is a steel lightning tower from the early Showa period (1926–1945), registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 26, 2011.
At 26 metres it is by far the tallest thing on the lot, a lattice of steel rising behind the roofs from its spot east of the Nariwai no Kura. The national database dates it only to the early Showa period; the museum says it is said to have gone up in 1930.
Why it was registered
The tower is built from equal-leg steel angles bolted together into a single Warren truss, with diagonals zigzagging up each face. The verticals are where it gets interesting. The western leg rises straight. The eastern leg leans in for the first 80 percent of the height, then straightens to run parallel to the western one. The result is a tapering base topped by a slim, straight mast.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs singles it out as lightning protection built for a private house, and as a marker of the district's modernization. In the early Showa years, very few families anywhere would have raised a steel tower of this size in their own back garden.
What to look for
The museum tells the story that the seventh head of the family was afraid of thunder, and that this is why the tower was built. Beyond protecting storehouses full of goods, it gives a glimpse of the man. The museum also says the lightning rod is still in working order today.
Stand back rather than right underneath. From a distance you can find the point where the eastern leg bends upright, and the lopsided geometry becomes obvious.
Seeing the Lightning Rod Tower
The top of the tower is visible from outside the compound, but getting to its base requires admission to the Sairi Yashiki museum. It stands at the back of the lot, east of the Nariwai no Kura. Since it is working lightning protection, assume you cannot climb it or cross any barrier, and keep clear of it when a storm is near.
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Q&A
- How tall is the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower?
- 26 metres. It is a steel frame of bolted equal-leg angles arranged as a single Warren truss.
- When was the Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower built?
- The national database says the early Showa period (1926–1945); the museum says it is said to date from 1930.
- Why did the Saito family build the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower?
- According to the museum, the seventh head of the family disliked thunder, which is said to have prompted it.
- Does the Sairi Yashiki lightning rod still work?
- The museum's website says it is still in service today.
- Where can I see the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower?
- It stands east of the Nariwai no Kura. The top is visible from outside; the base is inside the paid museum grounds.
Basic Information
| Name | Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower (蔵の郷土館齋理屋敷避雷針用鉄塔) |
|---|---|
| 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 structure |
| Dimensions | Steel frame, 26 metres high |
| Owner | Marumori Town |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable from the museum grounds (admission charged) |
References
- Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Lightning Rod Tower (Agency for Cultural Affairs database, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008406
- About Sairi Yashiki (official website, Japanese)
- https://sairiyashiki.com/about/
Last verified: 2026.09.24
