About the Handayama Original Meter House
The Handayama Original Meter House (半田山配水地創建量水室) is a hexagonal brick meter house built in 1905 on Mount Handa in Hokaiin, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 9, 2005. It housed the meter that measured the water sent from the reservoirs into the city (Okayama Prefecture).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a single-storey brick building with a building area of 8.9 square metres; registration number 33-0097, owned by Okayama City. The Handayama Distribution Reservoirs were built as part of Okayama City's original waterworks, founded in 1905 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Handayama Original Meter House was registered as a building that has become a model of design. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as an elegant piece of design for such a small utility building. It stands about 35 metres above sea level.
What to Look For
The Handayama Original Meter House is a regular hexagon in plan, with brick pilasters at each corner (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The front doorway combines a triangular pediment crowned with a keystone motif and classical orders, while the other walls have round windows framed in granite (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Walk around from the formal front to the round windows on the sides. Just to the west stands the 1939 extension meter house, which follows this design.
Visiting the Handayama Original Meter House
The Handayama Original Meter House stands within the Okayama City Handayama Botanical Garden and is open for exterior viewing only (Okayama Prefecture). Garden admission is required; hours and directions are on the Handayama Distribution Reservoirs page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Handayama Original Meter House
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Handayama Original Meter House built?
- In 1905.
- What was the Handayama Original Meter House for?
- It housed the meter that measured water sent from the reservoirs into the city (Okayama Prefecture).
- When was the Handayama Original Meter House registered?
- On February 9, 2005.
- What does the Handayama Original Meter House look like?
- A brick hexagon with a keystone pediment at the front and granite-framed round windows (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can you visit the Handayama Original Meter House?
- Yes, from outside, within the Handayama Botanical Garden; garden admission is required (Okayama Prefecture).
Basic Information
| Name | Handayama Original Meter House (半田山配水地創建量水室) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-1 Hokaiin, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/2/9 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | A single-storey brick building with a building area of 8.9 square metres |
| Owner | Okayama City |
| Public Access | Exterior only (inside the Handayama Botanical Garden; admission charged) |
References
- Handayama Original Meter House (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00004632
- Handayama Distribution Reservoirs (Okayama Prefecture cultural properties)
- https://www.pref.okayama.jp/uploaded/attachment/260977.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.06
