An Early Meiji Wall Around the Back of the Property
Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall (加藤酒造裏土塀, Katō Shuzō Ura-dobei) is an early Meiji-era earthen wall in Omisaki, Ariake-cho, Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and it was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on October 23, 2008. It encloses the back of the property behind the store and main house and is 37 meters long.
The Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall carries registration number 42-0078 and was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Meiji era and records repairs in the Taishō era.
Following the Shape of the Lot
According to the agency, the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall starts at the southwest corner of the formal toilet room (上便所) at the back of the main house and runs west. At the southwest corner of the lot it is cut on the diagonal, then turns north to follow the boundary.
It is 2.4 meters high, with the western stretch built lower. It is the longest of the five registered structures, more than twice the length of the 16-meter front wall.
Stone Base, Plaster Cap and a Back Door in the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall
Along both the south and west sides, the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall is an earthen wall set on a stone base, capped with pantiles and sealed with white lime plaster (Shikkui).
At the east end a service entrance is cut into the wall at the height of the stonework, a way in and out at the back of the property separate from the front gate.
The front wall is Taishō-era work; the rear wall goes back to the early Meiji era, the same period as the oldest part of the main house.
Visiting the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall
The Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall stands at the back of the lot, and it is unconfirmed how much of its outer face can be seen from a public road. The property is a private home, and no public opening has been confirmed.
Seeing the inside of the wall would require the owner's permission. If you walk around the area, keep to public roads.
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Q&A
- When was the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Meiji era, with repairs in the Taishō era.
- How long is the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall?
- It is 37 meters long and 2.4 meters high, with the western stretch built lower.
- What route does the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall follow?
- It runs west from the southwest corner of the formal toilet room behind the main house, is cut on the diagonal at the lot's southwest corner, and turns north.
- How is the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall built?
- An earthen wall stands on a stone base, capped with pantiles and sealed with lime plaster. A service entrance opens at the east end at the height of the stonework.
- Can I see the Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall?
- It is at the back of the lot, and it is unconfirmed whether its outer face is visible from a public road. No public opening of the grounds has been confirmed.
Basic Information
| Name | Kato Sake Brewery Rear Earthen Wall (加藤酒造裏土塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1216-1 Nishikawa, Omisaki Bo, Ariake-cho, Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building), registration no. 42-0078 |
| Year Designated | Registered October 23, 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Earthen wall, tiled cap, 37 meters long, 2.4 meters high |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (visibility from public roads unconfirmed) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Kato Shuzo Ura-dobei
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007415
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Kato Shuzo Omote-dobei
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007414
- Nagasaki Prefecture Cultural Property Database: Kato Shuzo Store and Main House, Well, Gate and Earthen Walls (in Japanese)
- https://www.pref.nagasaki.jp/bunkadb/index.php/view/270
Last verified: 2026.10.02
