A Festive Old Inn before the Gate of Taimadera
The Tamaya Main House (玉や主屋) is the main house of a former inn before the gate of Taimadera of the late Edo period in Taima, Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 25, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 142 square metres; registration number 29-0228.
An Inn Decorated with Plaster Reliefs and Jewels
The Tamaya main house is a two-storey former inn on a corner before the gate of Taimadera (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Hip-and-gable to the west and gabled to the east, its gently curved pantiled roof is ringed by lean-to eaves and railings.
Lattices line the outside, a plaster relief of pines and cranes decorates the wall, and the eaves brackets are carved with sacred jewels, giving it a festive air (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes its festive air and its contribution to the scene before the gate of the ancient temple, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the pine-and-crane plaster relief on the wall and the jewels carved on the eaves brackets (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The owner field in the Agency database is unclear. No official information on public access was found. The main house and the detached guest rooms are introduced together on the Tamaya page.
Q&A
- When was the main house built?
- In the late Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What was it originally?
- An inn before the gate of Taimadera.
- How is it decorated?
- With a pine-and-crane plaster relief and carved jewels.
- What is its roof like?
- Hip-and-gable to the west, gabled to the east, gently curved.
- When was the Tamaya Main House registered?
- On February 25, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Tamaya Main House (玉や主屋) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1242 Taima, Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2016/02/25 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, tiled roof, 142 m² |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency database |
| Public Access | No official information on access |
References
- Tamaya Main House (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010989
Last verified: 2026.10.23
