Hiramatsu Family Residence Outdoor Toilet, Charcoal Shed and Work Shed

3 Uses in One Long, Narrow Outbuilding

The Hiramatsu Family Residence Outdoor Toilet, Charcoal Shed and Work Shed (平松家住宅外便所・炭小屋及び作業小屋, Hiramatsu-ke Jūtaku Sotobenjo, Sumigoya oyobi Sagyōgoya) is a single-storey timber outbuilding built in 1907 in Obuse, Nagano Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 28 October 2011.

It stands towards the north end of the east side of the plot, directly north of the barn. The name lists 3 functions, but they are housed in 1 building.

A Plan Only 1.8 Metres Deep

The Hiramatsu Family Residence Outdoor Toilet, Charcoal Shed and Work Shed is 13.3 metres long but only 1.8 metres deep, with a building area of 29 square metres. Its length is more than 7 times its depth, an unusually slender plan.

The long body is divided, from south to north, into the outdoor toilet, the charcoal shed and the work shed. Each has its own door on the west side, facing the inner yard, so that from the yard 3 doorways appear side by side beneath one roof.

The roof is a gable (Kirizuma-zukuri) of pan tiles (Sangawara-buki). The walls are finished at the intermediate clay coat, with boarding around the base.

The Back-of-House Building

An outdoor toilet, a store for charcoal and a shed for work: the Hiramatsu Family Residence Outdoor Toilet, Charcoal Shed and Work Shed holds the back-of-house functions that kept the household running. None of them would amount to more than a hut on its own; here they are gathered into one shallow building set along the east side.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that together with the silkworm rearing house and the barn it forms a unified compound landscape. It was registered as contributing to the historic landscape of the country, and it closes the northern end of the line of outbuildings on the east side.

It dates from 1907, the same year as the barn it adjoins. The barn is finished in white plaster while this range is left at the clay coat, so the 2 neighbours differ in finish.

Viewing the Hiramatsu Family Residence Outdoor Toilet, Charcoal Shed and Work Shed

All 3 doors of the Hiramatsu Family Residence Outdoor Toilet, Charcoal Shed and Work Shed face west into the inner yard, so none can be seen from outside. How much of the east side is visible depends on walls and planting on site.

The interior is not open. The Hiramatsu Family Residence is a private home and the grounds cannot be entered.

Directions and the general conditions for visiting are on the Hiramatsu Family Residence page.