16 Meters Along the Street and Around the Corner
Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall (加藤酒造表土塀, Katō Shuzō Omote-dobei) is a Taishō-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 runs west from the gate along the street and turns south at the northwest corner of the lot, 16 meters in all including the bend.
The Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall carries registration number 42-0077 and was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits it with shaping a traditional streetscape.
Stone Below, Earth Above
The Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall is built in two tiers: an earthen wall set on a stone base. It stands 2.4 to 3.4 meters high, and the stonework alone accounts for 1.3 to 1.7 meters of that.
The base is laid in Kirikomi-hagi, with the stones cut and dressed so that their faces meet without gaps. The earthen wall above is capped with pantiles and sealed with white lime plaster (Shikkui).
The height varies by about 1 meter along the run. Walk the length of it and you can watch the stone course and the wall above change height.
Dating and Later Work on the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall
The agency dates the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall to the Taishō era and records a renovation around 1965, without saying what was done.
The rear earthen wall on the same property is built the same way, earth on stone. But the rear wall is 2.4 meters high, while the front wall reaches 3.4 meters at its tallest and has a base of dressed kirikomi-hagi stonework.
Visiting the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall
Because the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall lines the street, it can be seen from the road. Behind it is a private home, and no public opening of the grounds could be confirmed.
Look for the tight joints of the dressed stone and for the point where the wall turns south at the northwest corner. Walking west from the gate, you can follow the changes in height and then the corner itself. The wall is private property, so please do not climb on or touch the stonework.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall
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Q&A
- When was the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the Taishō era and records a renovation around 1965.
- How long and how tall is the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall?
- It is 16 meters long including the bend and 2.4 to 3.4 meters high, of which the stone base makes up 1.3 to 1.7 meters.
- What is special about the stonework of the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall?
- The base is kirikomi-hagi, with stones dressed to fit without gaps. An earthen wall rises on top, capped with pantiles and sealed with lime plaster.
- Why is the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, as part of the traditional streetscape along the road.
- Can I visit the Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall?
- Its exterior can be seen from the street. The grounds behind it are a private home, and no public opening could be confirmed.
Basic Information
| Name | Kato Sake Brewery Front Earthen Wall (加藤酒造表土塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1216-1 Nishikawa, Omisaki Bo, Ariake-cho, Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building), registration no. 42-0077 |
| Year Designated | Registered October 23, 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Earthen wall, tiled cap, 16 meters long, 2.4 to 3.4 meters high (stone base 1.3 to 1.7 meters) |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the street only (grounds not open) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Kato Shuzo Omote-dobei
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007414
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Kato Shuzo Ura-dobei
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007415
- 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
