What Is the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall?
The Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall (小坂家住宅土塀, Kosaka-ke Jūtaku Dobei) is a tiled earthen wall built in the late Meiji era (1898 to 1912) around the west and north sides of the Kosaka homestead in the Murayama district of Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on December 5, 2019.
It runs 58 m in total. Starting at the rice storehouse in the southwest corner, it heads north, turns a right angle at the northwest corner and continues east to the rear warehouse. Each end has a single-leaf door.
Why It Was Registered
It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as a wall that enriches the rural scenery.
Its importance lies in how it ties two storehouses together. With the rice storehouse at one end and the rear warehouse at the other, the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall draws an unbroken line around the property, so the outline of the homestead reads clearly from outside.
What to Look For: Two Walls in One
The frame is the same throughout: posts stand on a timber sill, brackets project from them to carry an eave beam, and a small roof of pantiles is laid over finished boards.
The wall finish is not. Along the west side, the outer face is plastered right over the posts, a style called okabe, with sasarako shitami boards on the lower part. Along the north side, the posts are left exposed in the Shinkabe manner. Turn the corner and the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall changes character.
The west face looks out toward lanes and fields, while the north face joins the rear gate and rear warehouse in forming the back of the compound. The change of finish may reflect those different roles.
Visiting the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall
The Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall encloses a private home, and the area inside it cannot be entered. Because it runs along the outer edge of the property, it is among the easier structures to see from outside. The neighborhood mixes houses and farmland, so stay on the public road and do not step onto private land or fields.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nagano
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall
- [ Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Hiking Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late Meiji era (1898 to 1912).
- How long is the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall?
- It runs 58 m, turning a right angle from the rice storehouse in the southwest to the rear warehouse on the north side.
- How do the west and north sections of the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall differ?
- The west section is plastered over its posts with board cladding below; the north section leaves its posts exposed.
- Can the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall be seen from outside?
- Yes, as far as it is visible from the surrounding roads; the area inside the wall is private.
- When was the Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall registered?
- It was registered on December 5, 2019, under registration number 20-0549.
Basic Information
| Name | Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall |
|---|---|
| Location | 282 Ichinoguchi and others, Oaza Murayama, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | 2019 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Total length 58 m |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (exterior viewable from outside the property) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Kosaka Family Residence Earthen Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00013104
- Nagano City: List of Nationally Registered Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.nagano.nagano.jp/n151100/contents/p002914.html
Last verified: 2026.09.24
