An Early Meiji Well at the Heart of the Lot
Kato Sake Brewery Well (加藤酒造井戸, Katō Shuzō Ido) is an early Meiji-era stone well in Omisaki, Ariake-cho, Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and it was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on October 23, 2008. It lies near the middle of the property, beyond the earth-floored passage (Toriniwa) of the store and main house, and is said to have supplied water for brewing.
The Kato Sake Brewery Well carries registration number 42-0075 and was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a stone structure with an area of 1.5 square meters.
A Square Curb Around a Round Shaft
The visible part of the Kato Sake Brewery Well is a curb built from slabs of local tuff, each 0.18 meters thick. The curb is square, 1.2 meters on each side, and low, just 0.45 meters high.
At the corners the slabs are half-lapped: each end is cut back by half its thickness so that neighbouring stones lock together. The joint is easy to see if you look at a corner.
Inside, the shaft is cylindrical, 1.0 meter across and 10 meters deep. Square outside, round within.
The Kato Sake Brewery Well and Brewing Water
The agency's notes say the Kato Sake Brewery Well is reputed to have been used in brewing. Neither the agency nor the prefecture records how long it served the brewery or whether it still yields water.
The Kato family began brewing here in 1877, and the well is dated to the early Meiji era. It may have been dug around the time the brewery was founded, but the sources stop short of saying so.
Visiting the Kato Sake Brewery Well
The Kato Sake Brewery Well stands near the centre of the lot, behind the main house, and cannot be seen from the street. The property is a private home, and no public opening could be confirmed.
Seeing the well would require the owner's permission. Please do not enter the grounds without it.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nagasaki
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kato Sake Brewery Well
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Q&A
- When was the Kato Sake Brewery Well built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Meiji era. The Kato family began brewing sake here in 1877.
- How big is the Kato Sake Brewery Well?
- The square curb is 1.2 meters on each side and 0.45 meters high; the round shaft inside is 1.0 meter across and 10 meters deep.
- What was the Kato Sake Brewery Well used for?
- According to the agency, it is said to have been used in sake brewing.
- What stone is the Kato Sake Brewery Well made of?
- Local tuff, in slabs 0.18 meters thick, joined at the corners with half-lap joints.
- Can I see the Kato Sake Brewery Well?
- It sits near the middle of the lot and is not visible from the street, and no public opening of the grounds could be confirmed.
Basic Information
| Name | Kato Sake Brewery Well (加藤酒造井戸) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1216-1 Nishikawa, Omisaki Bo, Ariake-cho, Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building), registration no. 42-0075 |
| Year Designated | Registered October 23, 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone, area 1.5 square meters; curb 1.2 meters square and 0.45 meters high; shaft 1.0 meter in diameter and 10 meters deep |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (not visible from the street) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Kato Shuzo Ido
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007412
- 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
