The Storehouse at the Back of the Plot
The Shioya Old Storehouse (塩屋古蔵) is a plastered storehouse of the late Edo period in Honmachi, Taketamachi, Taketa City, Oita Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 1, 2003 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey Dozo-zukuri storehouse with a tiled roof and a building area of 44 square metres, dating from the late Edo period; registration number 44-0100.
A Fully Plastered Store at the Far End
The Shioya Old Storehouse stands at the very back of the property, behind the Middle Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It measures 7.5 metres by 5.9 metres, a two-storey storehouse with a gabled roof of interlocking tiles and its entrance on the long side; Taketa City gives the size as 4 by 3 bays.
Lime plaster covers the walls and is carried on over the eaves and gable boards, so that no timber is left exposed (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The ground-floor doorway has heavy plastered doors, and the opening around them is framed in a shape that recalls a torii gate.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency describes the Shioya Old Storehouse as a carefully made storehouse that gives the rear of the property its finished look, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
The detail to look for on the Shioya Old Storehouse is the torii-shaped frame around the ground-floor doorway, a raised border with a lintel that encloses the plastered doors (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The other is the plaster carried all the way up over the gable boards. With no timber showing, the walls read as one white mass up to the roof. The Agency places the doorway on the side facing the plot; Taketa City's plan says it faces the main house.
Visiting
The Shioya Old Storehouse stands at the back of a private property, and no official information on interior access was found. It is the building furthest from the street, and it is not confirmed whether it can be seen from the street or the side lane. No guidance on photography has been published.
Q&A
- When was the Shioya Old Storehouse built?
- In the late Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How large is the Shioya Old Storehouse?
- 7.5 by 5.9 metres, two storeys, with a building area of 44 square metres.
- What is special about the Shioya Old Storehouse?
- The torii-shaped frame around its doorway and the plaster carried up over the eaves and gables.
- Can I visit the Shioya Old Storehouse?
- It is privately owned and no interior access has been announced.
- When was the Shioya Old Storehouse registered?
- On December 1, 2003 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Shioya Old Storehouse (塩屋古蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 503 Honmachi, Taketamachi, Taketa City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2003/12/01 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey dozo-zukuri storehouse, tiled roof, building area 44 m² (7.5 m × 5.9 m) |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Exterior only (no information on interior access) |
References
- Shioya Old Storehouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003774
- Taketa City Historic Landscape Plan, Chapter 2 (Taketa City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.taketa.oita.jp/material/files/group/23/chapter2.pdf
Last verified: 2026.11.12
