About the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse
The Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse (ますや旅館東蔵, Masuya Ryokan Higashigura) is a two-storey earthen-walled storehouse built in the early Meiji period across the street to the south of the inn's East Wing in Tazawa Onsen, Aoki Village, Nagano Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005.
It covers a building area of 18 m² on a plan of 4.5 ken by 3 ken, under a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of pantiles, with a lean-to (Geya) over the doorway on the west side. It is the smallest of the six registered buildings and the only one on the far side of the street.
Its name is read Higashigura. It shares almost exactly the plan of the inn's other Storehouse, but where that one has an independent over-roof, the East Storehouse has a plain gabled roof, and its walls are finished differently.
Why the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs praises the solid appearance of the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse: the eaves of both the main block and the lean-to are fully sealed in Shikkui plaster, and the lower walls are finished in the manner of Namako-kabe. It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
Sealing the eaves means covering the rafters and soffits in plaster so that no timber is exposed, which makes them far more resistant to fire. At the East Storehouse this treatment extends even to the lean-to over the door, so the builders did not cut corners on a small building.
The other part of the assessment is location. The Agency credits the East Storehouse, together with the East Wing and the Storehouse, with setting the historic character of the spa town's main street. With the inn's guest wing and storehouse along one side and the East Storehouse facing them, both edges of the street are framed by Masuya Ryokan buildings.
What to Look For at the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse
Step close to the lower walls of the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse. Namako-kabe proper is made by setting flat tiles into the wall and building up the joints in rounded ridges of plaster, producing a grid or diagonal pattern. The Agency's wording is namako-style, so part of the interest is seeing for yourself how the pattern has been achieved here.
Then raise your eyes to the eaves. They are plastered white right up under the roof, leaving almost no wood in view, and the eaves of the west lean-to are finished the same way.
Turn around in front of the East Storehouse and the three-storey East Wing rises directly opposite. The storehouse and the guest wing facing each other across the lane make one of the clearest views of how the inn anchors the town's main street.
Visiting the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse
The inn's official website makes no mention of opening the interior of the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse. Masuya Ryokan does not accept day bathers either, so the exterior is what most visitors will see.
The East Storehouse fronts the street, so the exterior can be seen from the lane. Please stay on the street rather than entering the storehouse plot. To see it together with the East Wing, stand in the lane in front of it and face north. Directions and booking conditions are on the Masuya Ryokan page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse
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Q&A
- Where is the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse?
- The Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse stands across the street to the south of the inn's East Wing. Of the six registered buildings, it is the only one on that side of the street.
- When was the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse to the early Meiji period. It was registered in 2005.
- What is distinctive about the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse's exterior?
- Its eaves are fully sealed in plaster and its lower walls are finished in namako-kabe style. The eaves of the west lean-to on the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse are plastered in the same way.
- Can I see inside the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse?
- The inn's official website makes no mention of opening the interior of the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse. The exterior can be seen from the lane.
- How does the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse differ from the inn's Storehouse?
- Both measure 4.5 ken by 3 ken, but the Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse has a gabled roof, while the Storehouse has an independent over-roof. The East Storehouse is known for its namako-style lower walls; the Storehouse for its black-plastered windows and hachimaki band.
Basic Information
| Name | Masuya Ryokan East Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 2686 Tazawa, Aoki Village, Chiisagata County, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2005 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 18 m², 4.5 ken by 3 ken |
| Owner | Masuya Ryokan Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | No interior opening announced; exterior visible from the street |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: ますや旅館東蔵
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004807
- Cultural Heritage Online: ますや旅館東蔵
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/117887
- Masuya Ryokan official site: Rooms and Facilities
- https://www.masuya-1ban.com/facilities.php
- Masuya Ryokan official site: FAQ
- https://www.masuya-1ban.com/faq.php
Last verified: 2026.09.26
