A gable-entry storehouse north of the kitchen
The Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse (高橋家住宅東蔵, Takahashi-ke Jūtaku Higashigura) is a two-storey Dozo-zukuri storehouse of the mid-Meiji period, built between 1883 and 1896, at 5-4077 Obi, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) on 10 September 2010.
It stands north of the annex and kitchen, joined to the kitchen by an eave. It measures 10 metres by 4.4 metres and covers 51 square metres, which makes it the larger of the two storehouses on the estate.
The roof is a Kirizuma-zukuri gable in Sangawara-buki pantiles, and the building is entered at the gable end, a layout known as Tsumairi, through a doorway on the south face.
A plain, solid build: the case for the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse
The Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes its construction as plain and dependable.
The walls are finished in Shikkui lime plaster. Each floor is a single undivided room, and the roof is framed in the traditional Wagoya manner. Nothing is added for show; the building is shaped entirely around keeping its contents safe.
Five courses of Obi stone
The detail to look for on the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse is at ground level. Its base is built from five courses of Obi stone, a local stone used widely in the castle town; Nichinan City notes that the samurai houses of Obi set their hedges on Obi stone or river cobbles.
The west storehouse on the north edge of the plot sits on four courses, so the east storehouse stands one course higher. Comparing the two shows how the same household adjusted the base to the size of each store.
Because the entrance is at the gable end, the doorway sits beneath the triangular end wall when seen from the south. Linked to the kitchen by an eave, the storehouse closes the service route along the east side of the estate.
Visiting the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse (as of September 2026)
The estate has been closed since 1 August 2023. Before the closure, all buildings except the main house were already off-limits, and official sources give no sign that the interior of the storehouse was ever shown to visitors.
The Takahashi east storehouse stands at the back of the plot on the east side and cannot be seen from Honmachi-dori. No official guidance on photography could be found. The Nichinan City Tourism and Sports Division (0987-27-3315) is the listed contact for reopening news.
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Q&A
- Can I visit the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse?
- No. The estate has been closed since 1 August 2023, with no reopening date set.
- How big is the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse?
- It is a two-storey storehouse of 10 metres by 4.4 metres, covering 51 square metres.
- What is the base of the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse made of?
- Five courses of local Obi stone. The walls are finished in lime plaster.
- How does the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse differ from the west storehouse?
- The east storehouse is entered at its gable end on the south and sits on five courses of Obi stone. The west storehouse is smaller, has its entrance on the long south side and sits on four courses.
- When was the Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse built and registered?
- It dates to the mid-Meiji period, between 1883 and 1896, and was registered on 10 September 2010.
Basic Information
| Name | Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 5-4077 Obi, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2010 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-storey dozo-zukuri storehouse, tiled roof, building area 51 square metres, 10 metres by 4.4 metres |
| Owner | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database (managed and operated by Nichinan City, according to a 2023 local news report) |
| Public Access | Closed since 2023; no reopening date announced |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Takahashi Family Residence East Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008393
- Obi Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, Nichinan City
- https://www.city.nichinan.lg.jp/soshikikarasagasu/shogaigakushuka/2/817.html
- Former Takahashi Genjiro House, Obi Castle Town Preservation Society
- https://obijyo.com/ayumimap/takahashigenjirou/
- Former Takahashi Genjiro House temporarily closed over leaks and safety risks (Nichinan TV, 31 July 2023)
- https://www.nichinan.tv/2023/07/31/otcs/
Last verified: 2026.09.16
