The Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall
The Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall (井上家住宅石塀, Inoue-ke Jūtaku Ishibei) is a garden wall built around 1914 along the east side of the Inoue family estate in Tsurugawachi-machi, Hita City, Oita Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 31 January 2003.
The national database records a stone structure 25 metres long, counted as one structure rather than one building. It runs along the eastern edge of the garden that lies north of the main house's formal rooms, and its south end joins the rice storehouse.
How the Wall Is Built
Beyond the Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall runs a river, a level below the estate, so the wall stands on an Ishigaki base of rounded stones. The result is a two-tier structure: a cobbled retaining wall below, and the garden wall on top.
At its centre the wall steps up, built higher with stone and pierced by a round window. The Agency reads this as a design made with the garden in mind: a boundary treated as part of the view.
It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs values it as an integral part of the estate's layout.
What to Look For
The round window is the feature to remember on the Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall. Set in the raised central section, it may have served to frame a view from the garden toward the river.
On the outer side the cobbled base and the wall above stack into a single stone face, and with the rice storehouse joined at the south end, storehouse and wall together hold the estate's eastern edge.
Visiting the Stone Wall
The Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall encloses a private garden, and the garden side, including the view through the round window, is not open to visitors.
We could not confirm whether the outer face can be seen from across the river. Do not go onto the riverbank or private land. Directions are on the Inoue Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Oita
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall
- [ Beppu Hell Tour & Yufuin Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- When was the Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall built?
- Around 1914 (Taishō 3). It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 31 January 2003.
- How long is the Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall?
- It is a stone structure 25 metres long, built on a base of rounded stones because the river side lies lower.
- Where is the round window in the Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall?
- In the raised central section of the wall, a detail designed with the garden in mind.
- Can visitors see the Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall?
- The garden it encloses is private and not open. Its visibility from the river side is unconfirmed, so please do not enter the riverbank or private land.
- Why is the Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall a registered cultural property?
- It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, as an integral part of the estate's layout.
Basic Information
| Name | Inoue Family Residence Stone Wall |
|---|---|
| Location | 4279 Tsurugawachi-machi, Hita City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2003/1/31 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone, 25 metres long |
| Owner | Not disclosed (not listed in the national database) |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 井上家住宅石塀
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003179
- Cultural Heritage Online: 井上家住宅石塀
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/194179
- Hita City: List of Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.hita.oita.jp/soshiki/29/2199.html
Last verified: 2026.09.26
