Tanaka Honke Museum Inner Wall and Gate

What the Tanaka Honke Museum Inner Wall and Gate Is

The Tanaka Honke Museum Inner Wall and Gate (田中本家博物館内塀及び門) is an early Meiji-period roofed wall with gates that divides the large garden from the north row of storehouses within the Tanaka merchant estate in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 19 September 2003.

The wall starts south of the Miso Storehouse and runs east, turning as it goes, for a total length of about 40 metres. It is a light Shinkabe wall with exposed posts under a small roof of pantiles, pierced partway along by a small wall gate and, south of the Waterwheel Storehouse, by a tiled Munamon gate.

It is not part of the outer boundary. Its job is inside the estate: separating house and garden from the working lane of storehouses.

Why the Inner Wall and Gate Was Registered

The Tanaka Honke Museum Inner Wall and Gate was registered as contributing to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs treats it as part of the composed scenery of the residence, screening the large garden north of the Former Main House from the entrances of the storehouses along the north edge.

From the garden, the storehouse doors and all the carrying in and out are hidden behind it; what you see is a low tiled wall and a timber gate. It was built to keep the view that guests enjoyed free of the business of the house.

What to Look For: Garden Side and Storehouse Side

The shinkabe wall, posts and tie beams showing under a little roof, is light where the perimeter storehouses are heavy. It is a quiet design meant to stand alongside garden planting.

Step through the gate south of the Waterwheel Storehouse and the scene changes completely, from garden to a lane of white walls and storehouse doors. The gate marks the line between the front and back of the estate.

Notice the second, smaller gate partway along. There was more than one way through, so traffic to the storehouses could be split by purpose.

Visiting the Inner Wall and Gate

The Tanaka Honke Museum Inner Wall and Gate lies inside the estate and is seen after entering. Walk the north side of the large garden to see its full run, then pass through the gate south of the Waterwheel Storehouse into the storehouse lane.

Opening hours and admission are on the Tanaka Honke Museum page.