The Odd One at the Corner
In the southwest corner of the compound stands a building that does not quite match its neighbours. Where the other storehouses wear white plaster, this two-storey structure of about 52 square metres is wrapped in iron. A metal-sheet roof is swept down low, carried forward to cover a front room, and inside the walls are lined with iron sheet as well. The base is clad in the same material, with plaster only on the upper part.
The entrance is set on the north side. The overall effect is dark and closed, more industrial than the ornamented buildings near the house. It dates from the Taishō era, roughly 1912 to 1918.
A Building That Keeps Its Secret
The most honest thing to say about this storehouse is that no one is quite sure what it was for. Local tradition holds that fireworks were made here, and the heavy use of iron would fit a concern with damp or with fire, but the original purpose is recorded as unknown. The register itself notes only the rumour and the uncertainty.
The fireworks story is not far-fetched in this town. The saffron-sake business is documented as a sponsor of Nagaoka's great fireworks, including the enormous shells the festival is famous for, so a connection to pyrotechnics sits within the family's world. Whether that extended to manufacture on this spot is exactly the kind of question the building refuses to settle.
What You Can Observe
The storehouse is best read from the grounds as a contrast in materials. Set it beside the plaster and coloured relief of the buildings near the house and the choice of iron becomes a puzzle worth turning over. Look at how the metal roof continues down over the front room, and at the way the cladding wraps the base.
The compound is owned by the city of Nagaoka and opens for guided visits on weekends and holidays; the exterior can be seen freely. A guide can lay out what is known and what is guessed about this corner building, which is part of its appeal.
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Q&A
- What was this storehouse used for?
- Its original purpose is recorded as unknown. Local tradition says fireworks were made here, and the heavy use of iron may relate to damp or fire, but nothing is confirmed.
- Why is it covered in iron?
- The roof, base and inner walls are all clad in iron sheet. The reason is uncertain, though such cladding can guard against moisture or fire.
- Is there really a fireworks connection?
- The saffron-sake business is documented as a sponsor of Nagaoka's fireworks, so pyrotechnics were part of the family's world. Whether shells were actually made here is not established.
- Why does it look so different from the other storehouses?
- The buildings near the main house wear white plaster and coloured relief, while this one is dark and iron-clad, which makes it stand out at the corner of the grounds.
- Can I go inside?
- The interior is not part of the usual open circuit. The building is best appreciated from the grounds, which open on weekends and holidays.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kina Saffron Sake Manufacturing, Shichiren Storehouse (旧機那サフラン酒製造本舗シチレン蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 169-1, Settaya 4-chōme, Nagaoka, Niigata |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (registered 4 February 2021) |
| Construction | Taishō (c. 1912–1918) |
| Structure | Two-storey plaster storehouse, iron-sheet roof; building area approx. 52 m² |
| Count | 1 building |
| Owner | City of Nagaoka |
| Access | Exterior open freely on weekends and holidays |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database — Shichiren Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00013528
- City of Nagaoka, Former Kina Saffron Sake Manufacturing
- https://www.city.nagaoka.niigata.jp/kankou/miru/brewing/kina-saffron.html
- Settaya-Miyauchi, Kina Saffron Sake
- https://settaya-miyauchi.jp/kinasaffron/
- Nippon.com, Settaya district of Nagaoka
- https://www.nippon.com/ja/guide-to-japan/gu900174/
Last verified: 2026.07.09