What Is the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate?
The Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate (旧稲葉家別邸外塀及び東門, Kyū Inaba-ke Bettei Sotobei oyobi Higashimon) is a 45-meter wall and a 2.3-meter service gate built around 1902 in Usuki City, Oita Prefecture, enclosing the Usuki residence of the former Inaba lords, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 8, 2008. It was repaired in 1990.
The wall starts beside the wicket of the main Gate, turns and runs east to west, and the East Gate, a service entrance, stands at its eastern end. Wall and gate are registered together as one property.
Grey Stone, Dark Boards, White Plaster
The wall of the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate is built up in layers: a course of local tuff stone, a timber sill laid on it, posts set on the sill and wall panels between them. The panels are finished in Shikkui plaster, and the lower part of the outer face is clad in overlapping boards.
Usuki City's leaflet identifies the stone as haiishi, a welded tuff from Aso that appears to be local, used for the wall's supports and base. The stone base alone takes up a third of the wall's total height and gives it a distinctive look. The city adds that the boarded skirt has been there since the villa was completed.
Grey stone at the bottom, dark boards above it, white plaster on top. Walk along the street and these three bands run level for 45 meters.
The East Gate at the End of the Wall
The East Gate of the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate is a service entrance 2.3 meters wide, closed by a pair of plank doors. Next to the 2.7-meter main Gate with its two wickets it is noticeably smaller, and the difference in size matches its role as the everyday entrance beside the formal front.
With a gate at each end and one continuous wall between them, the south side of the estate reads as a single face with a formal entrance and a service entrance.
Why the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate Was Registered
The Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits it with setting the scene of a traditional street.
Usuki City says the wall, the main Gate and the East Gate together shape the look of the villa and its surroundings. The wall screens the buildings inside from the street while giving this stretch of the castle town the face of a samurai estate.
Seeing the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate
The Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate faces the street on the south, so the outside can be seen at any time without a ticket. Get close to the foot of the wall to see how the tuff blocks are laid and how the sill and boards sit on them, and look at the corner where the wall turns beside the main Gate.
The East Gate is a service entrance, and visitors go in through the main Gate. To see the wall from the inside you need to enter the Former Usuki Domain Lord Inaba Family Shimoyashiki. We found no official guidance on photography (checked September 2026).
Q&A
- When was the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate built?
- Around 1902. It was repaired in 1990.
- How is the wall of the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate built?
- It is 45 meters long: local tuff stonework, a timber sill and posts, plastered wall panels, and overlapping boards on the lower outer face.
- What is the East Gate of the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate?
- A service entrance at the east end of the wall, 2.3 meters wide, with a pair of plank doors.
- When did the Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East 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 Outer Wall and East Gate for free?
- Yes, the outside can be seen from the street at any time. Seeing it from inside the grounds requires admission to the Former Usuki Domain Lord Inaba Family Shimoyashiki.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate (旧稲葉家別邸外塀及び東門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 6-6 Gionsu, Oaza Usuki, Usuki City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2008 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 property (wall and gate) |
| Dimensions | Wall length 45 m; East Gate width 2.3 m |
| Owner | Usuki City |
| Public Access | Outside visible from the street (perimeter of the Former Usuki Domain Lord Inaba Family Shimoyashiki) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007331
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former Inaba Family Villa Outer Wall and East Gate
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/187233
- 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
