Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura: the smallest storehouse
The Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura (蔵の郷土館齋理屋敷童の蔵, "the children's storehouse") in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, is a two-storey earthen storehouse from the Taisho era (1912–1926), registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 26, 2011.
It stands east of the Toki no Kura, across a narrow lane. Covering just 15 square metres, it is the smallest of the six registered storehouses at Sairi Yashiki, and the only one built in the Taisho era; the rest date from the late Edo and Meiji periods.
Why it was registered
The Warabe no Kura has the same kit of parts as its older neighbours: a detached gabled roof (okiyane) in copper, an entrance in the gable end (tsumairi), white lime plaster, a black plaster hachimaki under the eaves and namako-kabe tiling at the base. Paired doors close the east doorway and the upper opening. It measures only 4.4 metres by 3.4 metres.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as small but dignified. That the family built a Taisho storehouse to the same specification as its Meiji ones, just at half the size, shows how firmly the house kept its building habits across generations.
What to look for
According to the museum, the Warabe no Kura recreates children's play from the Taisho and Showa eras: model aeroplanes, bamboo dragonflies (take-tombo), a jukebox and handmade toys that adults tend to enjoy as much as children. A 2019 town report described the ground floor as boys' games and the upper floor as girls' dreams.
Look at it from across the lane next to the Toki no Kura. Beside a storehouse 11 metres long, the Warabe no Kura is less than half the depth, yet its black band and diamond tiling line up just as neatly.
Seeing the Warabe no Kura
The storehouse is at the back of the compound, over the lane, and its exhibits are included in Sairi Yashiki admission. The registered address is 25 Machinishi and other lots. Storehouse stairs are typically steep and this building is very small, so take care on busy days. Displays may change, 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 Warabe no Kura?
- Warabe no Kura, meaning the children's storehouse. That is the reading in the national database.
- What is on display in the Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura?
- Children's play from the Taisho and Showa eras, including model aeroplanes, bamboo dragonflies, a jukebox and handmade toys, according to the museum.
- When was the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura built?
- In the Taisho era (1912–1926). It is the only Taisho building among the six registered storehouses.
- How big is the Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura?
- It covers 15 square metres, 4.4 metres by 3.4 metres, the smallest of the registered storehouses.
- Can visitors go inside the Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura?
- Yes, with Sairi Yashiki admission. It stands east of the Toki no Kura across a lane.
Basic Information
| Name | Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura (蔵の郷土館齋理屋敷童の蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 25 Machinishi and other lots, 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 dozo-zukuri storehouse, copper roof, building area 15 square metres (4.4 metres long, 3.4 metres deep) |
| Owner | Marumori Town |
| Public Access | Open to the public as a museum exhibition building (admission charged) |
References
- Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki Warabe no Kura (Agency for Cultural Affairs database, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008404
- Warabe no Kura (Cultural Heritage Online, Japanese)
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/218540
- 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
