What Is the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate?
The Former Inaba Family Villa Gate (旧稲葉家別邸御門, Kyū Inaba-ke Bettei Gomon) is a 2.7-meter-wide bracket-arm gate (Udekimon) built around 1902 in Usuki City, Oita Prefecture, as the front gate of the Usuki residence of the former Inaba lords, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 8, 2008. It is a tiled timber structure and was repaired in 1989.
The Gate stands directly in front of the Daishoin reception hall and faces south onto the street. Step through and a paved path runs straight north to the Daishoin porch. The axis of the whole estate starts here.
A Large Gate with a Wicket on Each Side
An udekimon carries its little roof on arms (udeki) that project forward and back from the gateposts. At 2.7 meters across, the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate is, in the words of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, a large example of the type. Small wicket doors (Kugurido) for everyday use flank the main doors on both sides, and brace posts stand behind to steady the gateposts.
On gates like this the main doors usually stayed shut while people came and went by the wickets, opening only for formal guests. Placing a wicket on each side rather than one keeps the front of the Gate symmetrical.
Boat-Shaped Brackets and a Lattice Band
At the tip of each arm of the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate sits a Funahijiki, a short boat-shaped bracket that carries the eaves beam. It is a plain member but it gives the eave line a crisp finish. The eaves use a single layer of rafters, spaced widely apart, which keeps the roof light.
Higher up, between the lintel beam and the ridge beam, runs a band of lattice made of thin upright bars. Stand in the street and look up, and this row of bars adds depth and airiness to the top of the gate.
Why the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate Was Registered
The Former Inaba Family Villa Gate was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as giving the villa a front with the presence expected of a former lord's residence.
From beside the Gate's wicket the outer wall turns and runs east to the East Gate. Usuki City explains that the wall, the Gate and the East Gate work together to shape the look of the villa and its street, so the Gate matters as the centre of that street front rather than as a structure on its own.
Seeing the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate
The Former Inaba Family Villa Gate is the entrance to the Former Usuki Domain Lord Inaba Family Shimoyashiki, and visitors walk through it. The ticket office is just inside on the west. The outside of the Gate can be seen from the street at any time. Stand square in front of it to read how the wickets, brace posts, arms and brackets fit together.
Once through, turn round and look at the back. The brace posts make more sense from the inside. We found no official guidance on photography (checked September 2026).
Q&A
- When was the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate built?
- Around 1902. It was repaired in 1989.
- What kind of gate is the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate?
- A tiled timber bracket-arm gate 2.7 meters wide, with a wicket on each side, brace posts at the back and boat-shaped brackets supporting the eaves beam.
- Where is the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate?
- On the south side of the estate, directly in front of the Daishoin and facing the street.
- When did the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On July 8, 2008, registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
- Can I see the Former Inaba Family Villa Gate for free?
- Yes, from the street outside. The Gate is the entrance to the Former Usuki Domain Lord Inaba Family Shimoyashiki, and going beyond it requires admission.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Inaba Family Villa Gate (旧稲葉家別邸御門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 6-6 Gionsu, Oaza Usuki, Usuki City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2008 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Width 2.7 m (timber, tiled roof) |
| Owner | Usuki City |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the street (entrance to the Former Usuki Domain Lord Inaba Family Shimoyashiki) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Inaba Family Villa Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007330
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former Inaba Family Villa Gate
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/172632
- Usuki City: Former Usuki Domain Lord Inaba Family Shimoyashiki (Japanese)
- https://www.city.usuki.oita.jp/docs/2014013000108/
- Usuki City: Inaba Family Shimoyashiki leaflet (PDF, Japanese)
- https://usuki-kanko.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/inabakeshimoyashiki.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.29
