About the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse
The Masuya Ryokan Storehouse (ますや旅館土蔵, Masuya Ryokan Dozō) is a two-storey earthen-walled storehouse built in the early Meiji period beside the entrance of the Main Building in Tazawa Onsen, Aoki Village, Nagano Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005.
It covers a building area of 20 m² on a plan of 4.5 ken by 3 ken. The roof is an independent over-roof of pantiles, and a lean-to (Geya) shelters the doorway on the west side. The whole building stands on a tall base of dressed stone.
Among Masuya Ryokan's three-storey timber guest wings, the Storehouse is a different kind of building altogether, a white-walled two-storey kura. Its windows open onto the main street, and it sets the tone of the approach to the inn's front door.
Why the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs points to the finely worked Hachimaki band beneath the eaves of the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse and to the black plaster framing the windows that face the main street. On that basis it calls the Storehouse indispensable to the inn's dignified frontage, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
A hachimaki is the thickened band of plaster built out at the top of a storehouse wall, just under the eaves. It casts a strip of shadow between the white wall and the roof and sharpens the outline of the building. Here the band carries detailed decoration, a sign that the plasterers were given time to do careful work.
An okiyane is a timber roof set on top of the sealed earthen body of the storehouse rather than built into it. The gap between the two is generally held to help protect the storehouse body if the roof itself catches fire. In other words, the inn kept a fire-conscious storehouse right beside its entrance.
What to Look For at the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse
Looking up at the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse from the street, the first thing you notice is the height of its base. Raised on a platform of cut stone, the two-storey kura looks taller than it really is.
Then look at the windows. On the street side, black plaster outlines each opening against the white shikkui wall. The contrast carries even at a distance and is the main feature of the facade.
The hachimaki under the eaves is easiest to read when the sun strikes at a low angle and the band throws a clean shadow. The lean-to over the west doorway is also visible from the street. The Main Building's entrance lies immediately to the north, so notice how the Storehouse flanks the way into the inn.
Visiting the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse
The inn's official website makes no mention of opening the interior of the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse. Masuya Ryokan does not accept day bathers either, so for most visitors the exterior is what can be seen.
The exterior can be viewed from the main street. Because the Storehouse faces the street, you can make out the hachimaki and the black-plastered windows without entering the grounds. The entrance next to it is used by arriving guests, so please choose where you stop with care. Directions and booking conditions are on the Masuya Ryokan page.
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Q&A
- When was the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse to the early Meiji period. It was registered in 2005.
- What should I look for at the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse?
- The black plaster around the street-facing windows, the finely worked hachimaki band beneath the eaves, and the tall base of dressed stone. The Agency cites these in its assessment of the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse.
- Can I see inside the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse?
- The inn's official website makes no mention of opening the interior of the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse. The exterior can be seen from the main street.
- What kind of roof does the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse have?
- The Masuya Ryokan Storehouse has an okiyane, a pantiled timber roof set on top of the sealed earthen body of the storehouse.
- Where is the Masuya Ryokan Storehouse?
- The Masuya Ryokan Storehouse is attached to the south side of the Main Building's entrance, at 2686 Tazawa, Aoki Village, Nagano Prefecture.
Basic Information
| Name | Masuya Ryokan 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 20 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: ますや旅館土蔵
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004806
- Cultural Heritage Online: ますや旅館土蔵
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/181026
- 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
