Northern Culture Museum Shukokan

From Rice Store to Gallery

The Northern Culture Museum Shukokan (北方文化博物館集古館, Shūkokan) in Somi, Konan Ward, Niigata City, is a two-storey timber storehouse of 1901, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 28 April 2000.

The Northern Culture Museum Shukokan stands northwest of the main house and covers 168 square metres. It is a large gabled (Kirizuma-zukuri) storehouse entered from the long side (Hirairi), with a separately framed pantile roof (Sangawara-buki). The centre of the south front is left open, dividing the building into east and west halves.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that it was originally a rice store and is now a gallery.

A Storehouse of High Quality

The Northern Culture Museum Shukokan was registered as a building that would be difficult to reproduce. The agency praises its cut-stone base, the balanced combination of Namako-kabe tilework and plaster, and its trussed roof frame.

A separately framed roof sits above the earthen walls on its own structure. The museum points to its good ventilation as a feature of a store that once held 2,000 bales of rice.

On the date, the agency gives 1901. The museum's building guide originally said 1901 and has since corrected it to 1919. This article follows the national database and notes the discrepancy.

Tilework Outside, Trusses Above

On the outside of the Northern Culture Museum Shukokan, look at how the tiled lower walls balance the plaster above. Low, raking light shows the raised plaster joints of the tilework best.

Inside, look up as well. The agency lists the trussed roof frame, rather than traditional Japanese framing, among the marks of this storehouse's quality.

In spring, the museum says, a weeping cherry blooms just inside the small gate beside the building.

Visiting the Shukokan

The Northern Culture Museum Shukokan is a gallery separate from the main house, with permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum says it shows Chinese and Korean ceramics and Japanese antiques collected by the seventh head, including a sancai glazed horse.

It is closed during evening illuminations. Keep photos and posts to personal use.