A white wall on the lane
The Kobaien Main House North Wall (古梅園主屋北塀, Kōbaien Shuoku Kitabei) in Tsubaicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, is the tall wall along the lane between the main house and the detached parlor at Kobaien, the sumi ink maker founded in 1577; it was built early in the Taishō era (1912 to 1925) and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 1998/01/16 (number 29-0028). The Kobaien Main House North Wall is a tall plastered wall set between the lower wing of the main house and the detached parlor. It closes off the north edge of the property and stands right on the lane.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Taishō era: timber framed, tiled, 9.5 metres long, the shortest of the 3 registered Kobaien walls.
Boards below, plaster above
The band under the eaves is finished in plaster, and below it boarding is carried high up the wall. For an earthen wall it looks light, divided into a white band above and a boarded face below.
At each end it is detailed as one with the gables of the main house wing and the detached parlor, so from the lane it is hard to see where wall ends and building begins. The Agency credits the Kobaien Main House North Wall, with those gables, for keeping the townscape in order.
Seeing it
The Kobaien property is a private home and a working factory and cannot be entered, but the Kobaien Main House North Wall faces the lane to the north and can be seen from outside. From the main house gable to the detached parlor gable, wall and buildings read as one continuous face.
Shop hours, how to book a factory visit and directions from the station are on the Kobaien page.
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Q&A
- Where is the Kobaien Main House North Wall?
- Between the lower wing of the main house and the detached parlor, along the lane on the north edge of the property.
- How long is the Kobaien Main House North Wall?
- 9.5 metres.
- What does the Kobaien Main House North Wall look like?
- Plaster under the eaves and tall boarding below, detailed as one with the gables on either side.
- Can visitors see the Kobaien Main House North Wall?
- The grounds are not open, but it can be seen from the lane to the north.
- When was the Kobaien Main House North Wall registered as a cultural property?
- On 1998/01/16, as Registered Tangible Cultural Property number 29-0028.
Basic Information
| Name | Kobaien Main House North Wall (古梅園主屋北塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 7 Tsubakiicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 29-0028 |
| Year Designated | Registered 1998/01/16 (Heisei 10) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber framed, tiled coping; 9.5 metres long |
| Owner | Kobaien Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Grounds not open; visible from the lane to the north |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Kobaien Main House North Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00000476
- Cultural Heritage Online — Kobaien Main House North Wall
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/176696
- Kobaien Co., Ltd. — Company profile and opening hours
- https://kobaien.jp/profile.html
Last verified: 2026.10.02
